A DA has been submitted for the $5 million revitalisation of the historic Gerringong Co-Op.

It’s taken a bit longer to put together than co-owner Mel Matters thought it would, but she is very pleased with what has now been presented for approval.

“It took time because we wanted to get it right,” she says.

“We’ve worked closely with the heritage advisers to restore and enhance the building.

“We haven’t done any half measures.”

Having already led the way with a new era of dining in Gerringong - launching The Hill Bar & Kitchen and its offshoot, Gather - Mel is looking to use that hospitality experience and her long association with the Co-Op to bring it back to life.

She and her husband Dean Matters bought the 4385sqm complex with friends from the area, David Phillips and Charlene Dawson, just over a year ago for $2.25 million - over a million dollars above the reserve set by the receivers.

“It is great that locals got it, despite the fierce competition,” says Mel.

She and Charlene have been the driving force behind pulling the design together.

An artist's impression of the outdoor dining area from Robertson Collectif, Architects

“This building is very important to the community, and we want to do it justice,” says Charlene.

“The best way to preserve these heritage buildings is to repurpose them while maintaining the original structure and integrity.

“We really hope we have designed something that everyone can enjoy.”

As a Miller, one of Gerringong’s founding farming families, Mel has very fond childhood memories of the Co-Op and its restoration and rebirth is a passion project for her.

“As children, we just used to love it,” she says.

“It was such an event to go there and meet up with everyone.

“We would like to return it to that, and love having people drop in to catch up.”

The DA shows the plan to create a flexible complex of food areas that can be utilised for different purposes and in different combinations.

There are two restaurant spaces - a bigger one at the northern end (in what Mel still calls the Truck Room) and a more intimate, up-market one at the building’s southern end; a family oriented outdoor garden area along the eastern side of the building with a smokehouse and pizza oven; a takeaway kiosk; a large centrally located commercial kitchen; carpark and other necessary facilities.

A 3.3 metre brick wall on the eastern side, between the garden area and the carpark, will stop most noise from carrying further.

While the spaces could be booked for functions, like weddings or events, that niche is not the primary purpose of the complex.

Brimming with ideas, Mel envisages the Co-op having a real community focus, “I want it to be the hub of the community, like it was in years gone by.”

To that end, it will have family appeal and host a variety of community building events.

“We want it to be a real asset to be used by the community, not just a destination for visitors,” she says.

Having said that, its prominent location by the highway and railway station will make it a drawcard for visitors.

“Once it is restored, it will attract a lot of attention from the highway,” says Charlene.

“And already people are telling us that they are planning to catch the train down.”

Once approved, the four stages of the build will take 18 months. The first stage, which includes the larger restaurant and carpark, will be ready to open in 3-4 months.

“We are all ready to go, with the tradesmen and builders on hand,” says Mel.

“There is a lot of structural work that we need to do. Parts of it are at the point that if it doesn’t get fixed soon it will fall down.”

“The beautiful roofline is so unique, and I’m really looking forward to it all being restored,” says Charlene.

The major restoration will be a labour of love

Preparations have begun on the food front too, with an executive chef, Krzysztof Swiecinski, formerly of the Sydney Oyster Bar, coming on board seven months ago to be responsible for the new complex and the existing operations at The Hill and Gather.

A local with overseas hospitality experience and training, Brent McGuiness, has also been recruited as the Operations Manager.

Already one of the largest employers in Gerringong, Mel says the new venture will more than double their number of employees. It will also have a large multiplier effect.

“As well as supporting existing local businesses, we want this to be the catalyst for more local businesses developing to meet needs,” she says.

“We already know local mini-bus operators who are keen to expand to transport people to and from the venue.”

The DA is currently available for viewing at Council’s DA Tracker. Submissions close 30 November.