Raising the bar again

Developer to dress up key CBD location

ANOTHER boutique bar is destined for the Cairns CBD with plans for a multi-milliondollar redevelopment of a historic building gaining approval.

Cairns Regional Council this week approved plans for the project, which would transform the 1920s-era building at the corner of Spence and Lake streets.

The building is currently occupied by a massage parlour, restaurant and shop but was bought by a Cairns-based developer in December.

The developer, which the Cairns Post understands to be a family-owned group that specialises in commercial property, plans to remove the existing awnings and facade in order to bring back the historic style of the building.

The approved application details plans for a “restaurant/ bar/deli” on the building’s ground floor and commercial office space above.

The property was originally built for the National Bank of Australasia in 1926 and is an example of “Federation Tropmakeover ical Style architecture”, according to the project’s architectural firm Thomson Adsett.

Councillors were unanimous in their support for the development this week with Division 5 Councillor Richie Bates commenting on the “enlightenment” the project would bring to Lake St.

“It will be an excellent of the building in its current state,” Cr Bates said.

Work is expected to start in January.

The approval comes as boutique laneway bar Three Wolves prepares to open its doors for the first time today.

At 32 Abbott Street in Cairns’ CBD, Three Wolves is co-owned by trio Darren Barber, Sam Kennis and Grant Buckham.

The new venture features a large range of cocktails, craft beer, wine and spirits, which have been sourced from Australia and overseas. Mr Barber said he expected locals and working professionals to form the backbone of the venue’s clientele.

“We’re aiming at a demographic that probably isn’t fully catered for in Cairns at the moment,” he said.

“It’s about going out and trying different drinks.

“There’s such a variety of spirits available now and people are doing some cool stuff with them.”

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Picture: STEWART McLEAN NEXT STEP: Local band Machine Machine has won a battle of the bands competition that will see them perform in Airlie Beach on an all-expenses paid trip. Machine Machine band members are Dylan Hooper, Christian Jackson, Lyle Bray and Riley Hucks.

NEW LOOK: An artist’s impression of the revamped building.