Wollongong Harbour is already many people’s favourite part of the city but it may soon add another string to its bow.
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Yachties cafe operates from the small two-storey, 57 square metre building that is the Wollongong Yacht Club – previously it was used as a radio base for NSW Marine Rescue.
Now the yacht club wants to expand the cafe and formalise its licence to operate in the building, adding a covered outdoor area and a liquor licence for a small bar.
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Proponents say it would improve the underused public areas behind the docks, with pedestrian traffic an effective way to improve an area’s safety.
The cafe, run by chef Goutham Arya Thota, operates as part of the club, Wollongong Yacht Club Commodore Stephen Phillips said.
“We hold a briefing here on Sundays and one of our members brought down a coffee machine for the members,” he said.
“Then Goutham got involved … and we started getting more people.
“We’re getting new people sailing that have never sailed before. Traditionally we used to have 30-40 members. Now, we’re aiming to break 100, and I think we’re going to get there very soon.
“What’s very popular is our ‘discover sailing’ membership, for people who haven’t really sailed much.
“For $20 they can go our sailing twice, and see if they like it. One Sunday we have a race, and the other Sunday we have a social sailing.”
Mr Thota, who also runs the kitchen at Wollongong bar The Little Prince, is also a keen sailor and gets to combine two passions in one job.
“Every Sunday we are out there – we usually sail out to the Five Islands and around it, or up north to Bulli,” he said. “I started at the cafe in January last year, and our membership has really grown since then – the club’s interaction with the community has also grown.
“We run out of flyers, about 100 a week – that’s how quickly they go.”
He said the development application, on exhibition at Wollongong City Council, would include more tables, increased trading hours – and importantly, “a bit more protection from wind and rain – a marquee”.
An application for a more permanent liquor licence would follow through a separate process.
Mr Phillips said more boats were now mooring in the harbour and he was keen to see this continue.
“Wollongong Harbour is now getting a lot more visiting boats coming through – and by having this place open it makes it a more attractive for visitors to stop,” he said.
