Plans to renovate the historic ‘Keswick’ guesthouse at Austinmer appear to have begun.
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Wollongong City Council approved a DA for 139 and 145 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Austinmer in November 2017. No.145 is the site of Keswick House.
‘Keswick’ was built for Edward William Shaw of Keswick, England, who was also reportedly for many years associated in the management of the British-Australasian Tobacco Proprietary Company, Ltd.
The Lett family moved into Keswick, a newly renovated guesthouse built on six blocks on the southern headland overlooking Austinmer beach in 1932.
The Lett family managed the guesthouse for almost 40 years.
More than a decade ago, the site was reportedly administered by the Department of Health, and marketed to both holiday-makers and accommodation for corporate clients wishing to host meetings or seminars.
The DA by applicants ARPL was for the demolition of existing structures, alterations and additions to the dwelling house, construction of garage, swimming pool, outbuildings and related landscaping.
According to nearby residents, the site was fenced off a few weeks ago and the site office has been set up, although a start date for fully-fledged works is unknown.
The DA included demolition of the existing garage on 139; demolition of the existing two-storey garage/accommodation building in the centre of 145; partial demolition of elements of the dwelling of 145, to facilitate the proposed new work; ground floor alterations to the dwelling 145; and first floor addition to 145.