After sitting dormant for years, wheels are finally in motion to bring the former Port Kembla RSL building back to life.
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Sydney developer George Jamoo bought the premises 18 months ago for $650,000, according to Australian Property Monitors, with a vision to transform the site.
Dr Jamoo wants the property, on the corner of Military Road and Allen Street, to be a “one-stop shop” medical centre.
He is yet to submit a development application to Wollongong City Council because he wants to gauge commercial interest first in what he calls “the largest medical centre in the Illawarra”.
“We believe probably the best outcome of this is - because of the location, demographics of the people, unemployment - something with healthcare, like a one-stop shop medical centre, would be ideal,” he said.
“It’s hard to put something to council right now because we want to get it right and in order to get it right we want to talk to doctors and who needs what.”
Dr Jamoo wants the space to house general practitioners, hydrotherapy, radiology, pathology, psychology, minor surgery, eye care, paediatrics, drug and alcohol addiction services, dentistry, acupuncture and other services.
Previous Illawarra developments Dr Jamoo has been involved with include the million dollar Harbour View apartment complex at Wollongong Street in Shellharbour and the award-winning Rockpool apartment complex on Cliff Road in Wollongong.
It comes after several years of uncertainty for the building which housed the Port Kembla RSL sub-branch until 2013 when it was placed into administration and its executive sacked over breaches of the RSL constitution.
We believe probably the best outcome of this is ... something with healthcare like a one-stop shop medical centre would be ideal.
- George Jamoo
In 2015 RSL NSW finally put the premises up for sale with specifications in the contract stating the new owner must keep the public war memorial intact.
The 2,140 sqm building includes an indoor pool, auditorium, kitchen and cool rooms, and sits on a 2,856 sqm block.
Its zoning allows for retail, entertainment and community development.