Hotel for Sydney Botanic Gardens

Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain could get an $80 million five-star hotel as part of a 25-year redevelopment plan drawn up by Ian Connolly of Cox Richardson architects.

The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust wants to lease out a small parcel of the gardens for a 150-room hotel as one of 25 proposals to be rolled out in stages over 25 years including a new ferry wharf, railway station, harbour viewing area and new café.

To fund the $135 million plan, the trust is seeking funding from the private sector, state and federal governments.

The up-market hotel would be on a sloping site on Sir John Young Crescent leased to property group Challenger and the trust is looking for a third party to build and operate the hotel. It would be between one and four storeys. The hotel will have rooftop gardens open to the public.

Sydney Parklands and Botanic Gardens executive director, Kim Ellis, said there would be no commercialisation of the gardens and no plans for an entry charge.

The existing Victoria Lodge will become a function space.

Source:  Accommodation News - 7 April 2014