The NSW Government has filed civil enforcement proceedings in the Land and Environment Court of NSW to force urgent repairs to the heritage-listed former Paragon Cafe in Katoomba, New South Wales.

The proceedings, brought by the Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator, allege the property owner has failed to maintain minimum standards and carry out repairs required under the Heritage Act 1977. It is only the second case of its kind to be taken to court in NSW.

The Paragon opened in the Blue Mountains in 1916, established by Zacharias Theodore 'Jack' Simos. The café is recognised for its ornate decor, art deco architecture and history as a symbol of Greek migrant success. Once a beloved institution drawing visitors for handmade ice creams, confectionery and pastries, the building has sat empty since 2018.

Legal action follows Heritage NSW interventions including two formal Orders under the Heritage Act 1977 directing urgent repairs and maintenance.

"The Paragon is an irreplaceable treasure of our heritage, reflecting more than a century of migration, entrepreneurship and community in the Blue Mountains," says Penny Sharpe, Minister for Heritage. "Places like the Paragon carry our history and must be protected because once lost, they cannot be replaced. That is why we are taking decisive legal action."

Parliamentary Secretary for Heritage and Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle adds: "The Paragon is woven into the identity of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains. It's deeply disappointing to see such an important heritage building deteriorate due to a lack of maintenance. The NSW Government has worked hard to support a positive outcome here, but enough is enough."

Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator Chief Regulatory Officer Adam Gilligan says: "We have a responsibility to ensure heritage-listed properties are protected for future generations. This action sends a clear message that heritage obligations must be taken seriously, and owners of these properties have a legal responsibility to maintain them."

Main image: Paragon Cafe, 65 Katoomba Street, Katoomba, New South Wales, photographed December 2010. Credit: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Architecture & Design Team

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