Australian hospitality group The Point has been chosen to redevelop one of Sydney’s most historic sites, Fort Denison, into a dining and events destination.
Known by its indigenous name Muddawahnyuh, Fort Denison was once a defence facility and was last open as a restaurant in 2017.
Under a new 25-year lease, The Point Group, which recently announced the lease of Sydney CBD’s Shell House, will transform the Sydney Harbour island into a dining, events and tourism facility with capacity for up to 400 guests at any one time.
NSW Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean said Fort Denison has long been a “forgotten jewel in our spectacular Sydney Harbour crown”.
“We wanted to right that wrong, and deliver a state-of-the-art visitor experience for the whole community to enjoy that celebrates the unique heritage and environmental values of this unique site,” he said.
Kean said the proposal put forward by The Point’s Fort Denison Dining team delivers on all of those fronts.
The proposal includes a main dining room, a casual dining area, outdoor spaces, three exhibition rooms in the barracks buildings that will double as private dining rooms, along with a bar and wine room.
The Point Group CEO Brett Robinson said the group has worked for more than two years on the proposal, which aims to respect and celebrate the history and heritage of the island.
“We want to make the world take notice – it’s not just the Opera House and Harbour Bridge that are landmarks in Sydney Harbour,” he said.
“We want to recognise that Fort Denison is a key part of a trilogy of iconic landmarks.”
Robinson said the group recognises the responsibilities that come with the lease and its role as shared custodians with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to protect the heritage site.
In addition to the transformation works, NPWS has commenced significant conservation works of the original buildings and the sea wall, and is replacing the wharf to allow better access.
The lease will officially commence once works are complete and the site opens to the public, which is slated for late 2022.
