Man aims to rescue historic Bulli hotel

Last month, the Mercury reported on plans to demolish the two-storey building, which marks the starting point of the as-yet-unplanned northern extension of Memorial Drive.

RMS had looked into renovating the building but decided the $150,000 cost to renovate it and make it rentable was not worth the expected $500 weekly return.

When Mitchell Gordon read that story, he decided he had to act.

A member of the Wollongong City Heritage Advisory Committee, he has organised a petition to save the building, which he plans to present to Wollongong City Council and RMS.

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Having already collected "a few hundred" signatures, Mr Gordon believes the building's historical value warrants it being saved.

"It's the last surviving former temperance hotel in the Illawarra," he said.

"I think that makes it quite important. It's also one of the last former guest houses in the area as well.

"I'd like to see it restored and retained. I've put in a submission to Wollongong City Council objecting to the demolition and I've suggested that it could be used for a number of things because of its high visibility."

In a submission to council, Mr Gordon suggested it could be used as a tourist information centre, library or motel.

The property was identified as a heritage item of local significance in 1991.

However, a more recent study found there had been considerable changes to the building, which diminished its heritage value.

"They were mainly referring to the front verandah and the picket fence," Mr Gordon claimed, "but it really wouldn't be too costly to have them replaced."

Despite wanting to save the building that would appear to be in the path of a likely Memorial Drive extension, Mr Gordon said the two were not mutually exclusive.

"I've suggested in the submission that it might be possible to divert the highway," he said.