Chinese investors behind plans for international hotel at former post office
The Awabakal Aboriginal Land Council has been approached by a Chinese company, interested in turning Newcastle's former post office into an international hotel.
After a successful land claim last year, the Awabakal Aboriginal Land Council is now responsible for the deteriorating heritage-listed building.
Awabakal's Richard Green said his organisation would like to turn the building into an Aboriginal artefacts museum, but any refurbishment plans could cost around $20 million.
Mr Green said Awabakal is investigating several ways of raising the money, including a telethon.
But he said there are other options.
"We've had the Chinese approach us for an international motel," he said.
"They would outlay all the money to do it, and do a joint venture with us.
"Yeah, we're open to that if they're going to offer to do it, but we still want our cultural centre there with all our artefacts and they're all stored at the university.
"So there's a lot of stuff that we want to do, but if someone comes along with the money and offers us then we'd be only too grateful to accept."
But Mr Green said it is important the community gets its say on whether an international hotel is the best use of the historic site.
"Us as the community, we've got to sit down and have a big community meeting (to discuss) which is the best way to go," he said.
"I've had some conversations about the library, part of the library being the museum.
"We only received the deeds and titles in December, and that was the first time that we went in there, and then realised what was going on.
"We're here to work with the community, not for people to criticise us."
The land council will meet with Newcastle's heritage society on Wednesday to discuss funding to repair the building's roof and ceilings.
Source: ABC News, July 13th 2015
