Elkington Park Cottage restoration and adaptive re-use

Council is investing $1.6 million restoring the cottage at Elkington Park, Balmain for adaptive reuse as a social enterprise café and making the band rotunda accessible for everyone to enjoy.

The project was endorsed by Council resolution and through the adoption of a park plan of management (PDF 45.1MB) at Council's ordinary meeting on 5 December 2024:

"That Council proceed with the preparation and lodgement of a Development Application in relation to the adaptive reuse of the Elkington Park Cottage for community use, including options for short term activation, use for events, exhibitions and/or café."

It is anticipated that there will be an outdoor space within the building's curtilage for outdoor coffee.

A social enterprise has been endorsed by Council and can be considered a café or restaurant which has a "social conscience" and which provides employment opportunities for young adults with learning or physical impairment, and creates an inclusive workforce which is also supportive of social inclusion for all.

The design will also incorporate public amenities available for use by general park patrons.

No changes are planned to the children's playground as part of this project – this project is focussed on the refurbishment of the cottage for future activation.

No changes are proposed to parking arrangements as part of this project. Other successful park activation projects also exist in Balmain where no parking changes were enacted, such as the development of the successful café and restaurant which operates at 2-8 Weston Street (the heritage-listed Fenwick Building "The Fenwick").

The project is in the early design stages, with works planned to start in 2025.