A $20 million vision for the restoration of The Station at Newcastle aims to create a harbourside dining, bar and function area at the historic site.
The site is set to become a tourism, retail and hospitality precinct, breathing fresh life into the state heritage-listed buildings.
The plans would create four ground-floor hospitality tenancies ranging from 157 square metres to 282 square metres internally, with covered outdoor dining areas.
A 274-square-metre first-floor hospitality and function space is also proposed, with a lounge, bar and kitchen.
Restaurants, cafes and an art gallery are planned for the site, amid the restoration of heritage buildings and new tourist accommodation.
The venues could contain almost 1000 patrons, creating the potential for a significant new dining and hospitality precinct in Newcastle's East End.
The site's position within the harbourfront area, along with links to the beach and light rail, has raised hopes that the area will become a vibrant hub.
The NSW government announced in March that Ashbridge Capital had secured a 99-year lease over The Station, with plans to restore and activate the heritage buildings.
Hudson Retail Group has been appointed to lead the hospitality leasing campaign for the site.
It aims to attract established and emerging operators "capable of creating distinct dining, bar and function concepts that complement the heritage setting and broader Newcastle market".
Hudson Retail Group managing director Matt Hudson said "it's one of the most recognisable heritage landmarks in Newcastle".
"We're looking to lean into that, not remove that. We want to give people a reason to visit there," Mr Hudson said.
"Outdoor dining is at a premium. We think there's an opportunity for a number of tenants to anchor a dining precinct.
"The fact the site ownership is not fragmented means we can look at the tenancy mix from a strategic perspective and curate the dining experience."
Mr Hudson said each venue "needs its own identity, but the greater opportunity is what they create together."
He said the site could become like Campbells Cove, which takes in The Rocks around Sydney Harbour.
"The aim is to bring a heritage building into the modern era, with hospitality venues that part of the city is crying out for," he said.
"It's an opportunity for talented chefs and operators in the Hunter Region to go into a marquee venue."
He added that the plans would "complement the existing food offer in Newcastle", building on the success of Bistro Penny and Lock's Paddock for example.
In June, Ashbridge Capital submitted a development application to the City of Newcastle for alterations and additions at The Station.
This includes heritage conservation work and reuse of heritage-listed buildings for food and drink premises and short-stay tourist and visitor accommodation.
"The adaptive reuse of the Retort House reinstates a historic pattern of accommodation on the site," the application said.
The retort building, on the northern part of The Station site, was built in 1883 to provide the site with gas.
"The project seeks to refurbish the main station buildings and the adaptive reuse of the retort building to transform the precinct into a new destination," the application said.
"The site is envisioned to be a leading retail and hospitality precinct that will attract premium tenants and create a thriving new hub for Newcastle city centre."
The Station opened in 2018. Renew Newcastle stopped operating there in 2019 because the site was not on people's "list as a destination".
