Andrew Macdonald hit the nail on the head at the private opening dinner at The Signal Box restaurant on the Market Lawns in Newcastle East on Thurdsday night when he said he hoped they had created "a landmark building and landmark restaurant and tourist attraction with the heritage significance".
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The last train out of Newcastle train station left on December 26, 2014. The signal box that directed train traffic at that station has been preserved - with levers and switches in place as they were on that final day.
However, the rest of the building and the addition of a steel pavilion with hydraulic windows has transformed the location into a stunning restaurant space that will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as takeaway food service.
Macdonald, who operates Hotel Nelson and Lil Nel's restaurant in Nelson Bay, is the primary driving force behind The Signal Box transformation. The project has preserved the historic integrity of the building, built in 1936. The signal box itself is in tact and can be viewed in place in the heritage building.
The new pavilion includes a steel spiral staircase leading to a viewing platform.
"I was always taught you do things properly, you do it right the first time. And it will serve you well," Macdonald said. "The craftsmen who built the place have done a nice job."
I was always taught you do things properly, you do it right the first time. And it will serve you well.
- Andrew Macdonald
The restaurant opens to the public on Friday, December 6, from breakfast.
Chef George Mirosevich, one of the partners in business, said the menu would be "fun, vibrant, relatable food" sourced locally. Almost everything will be made from scratch in the restaurant's own kitchen.
"I think it's going to become a comfortable place to spend time," Macdonald said.
The restaurant has seating for 150 diners, including 64 indoors and 86 outside.
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Jim Kellar
Jim Kellar writes about culture, art, food, drinks and music. He's been a journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1997. jkellar@newcastleherald.com.au
Jim Kellar writes about culture, art, food, drinks and music. He's been a journalist at the Newcastle Herald since 1997. jkellar@newcastleherald.com.au
