Exciting changes are about to happen at the Port Jackson Island garrison as grand plans to revive Fort Denison into a new dining destination have been unveiled.
The Point, the famous hospitality group behind The Dolphin and Hotel Harry, has secured the lease to transform and revamp the site into the new Fort Denison Dining. The group plans to take back the site’s crown as the jewel of the Sydney Harbour by offering a range of dining experiences in a casual or fine dining setting.
Aside from the dining rooms, including an alfresco section, Fort Denison Dining will have three exhibition rooms for events like weddings and a dedicated wine room with a bar for guests to leisurely drink and unwind with the best views of Sydney as the backdrop.
Visitors can expect champagne breakfast, tours and live music events to take place as well. On a busy day, the dining site could cater to up to 400 guests.
“The proposal put forward by the Fort Denison Dining team delivers on all of those fronts, and I look forward to seeing Fort Denison reach its potential and become a must-see attraction for locals and visitors alike,” said NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean.
The hospitality group has also secured the necessary environmental and heritage approvals before the redevelopment starts, whilst National Parks and Wildlife Services will work on improving accessibility on the island, including setting up a new wharf for the visitors.
Once used as a penal colony, Fort Denison became a military fortification and defence ground in the 1840s. The guns at the barrack still work and have sometimes been fired for ceremonial events.
In 1992, the National Parks and Wildlife Service took control of the barracks and leased the space for hospitality operators, with the last restaurant shutting down in 2017.
Fort Denison Dining is earmarked to open in late 2022.
