Catering questions linger at Fort Denison
Fort Denison, the historic part of Sydney, has had a chequered past over the last 150 years. It’s been used as everything from a fishing spot to a navigational guide, from a weather station to a time marker.
These days, the place which sits on 470 square metres of the 2000 square metre rocky island about 1.4 kilometres east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is best known as for its historic museum and its restaurant and event space.
And therein lies the latest mystery about what’s next for the restaurant.
It turns out the New South Wales government which was looking to appoint a new food and beverage operator for the heritage listed tourism draw card decided for whatever reason to terminate the negotiations last week.
No reason was given, leaving taxpayers wondering what exactly is going on.
“The EOI (expressions of interest) for Fort Denison has been suspended while a commercial negotiation is before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal,’’ an Office of Environment and Heritage spokesman told The Australian.
And that was it, there was no explanation.
All of this is somewhat odd given that the state government had invited expressions of interest for a five year lease to start off with, plus a five year option for Fort Denison’s café and restaurant.
Managing director of Tailored Events and the incumbent Fort Denison restaurateur Liz Taylor has been running the restaurant for the last five years. According to The Australian she was planning to re-tender for the spot.
But then, she was saying nothing.
Contacted by The Australian, she told the newspaper she was under instructions not to comment.
Fort Denison is a popular spot. More than 7100 people visited the place on government tours in 2014-15. And that doesn’t include the people who have come there for functions, dining and special events.
by Leon Gettler, 17th August 2016
