A historic but vacant three-storey building in the heart of Maitland will be restored to its former glory as part of the changing face of High Street.
For years it stood as a hollow shell.
Now 333 High Street is under construction, and it hints at a future city shopping and dining precinct.
Maitland-based developers the Waeger Group have for the past year been working on plans for the new-look building which will be converted into four upstairs three-bedroom units and two shops/restaurants.
Plans are for seven terrace-style homes to be built at the rear of the main building.
“We had been looking to do some work in Maitland and then 333 came along and we thought, ‘This is a challenge we’d like to take on’,” project manager with the Waeger Group Michael Waeger said.
“I think Maitland City Council, along with many people, would like to see this particular end of Maitland be turned into something like Newcastle’s Darby Street.”
Built in 1863 and designed by former prominent Maitland architect William White, 333 was once used as a drapery store with living quarters upstairs.
In the past few years the building has been victim to termites and deterioration.
“The challenge for us here is that we have a building of historical significance, one of the only three-storey buildings in Maitland, that needs a lot of structural work,” Mr Waeger said.
“The trick is holding on to the heritage while embracing the future and bringing the building up to today’s building standards.”
In developing their plans for 333, the Waeger Group sourced old photographs of the building and used a Kearsley blacksmith to recreate the steel balustrades for the facade.
The building’s timber floors, gnawed by termites, have been replaced with concrete and the developers are committed to outfitting the interior with a historical feel.
The first stage of the building is expected to be finished by the end of the year.