At The Heads Restaurant Refurbishment Project
About the Project
“At The Heads” restaurant and kiosk at the Barwon Heads jetty, is 25 years old and needs an upgrade to continue to meet industry standards and improve the internal functioning of the restaurant.
The restaurant is on coastal Crown land managed by Barwon Coast through a lease arrangement with Short Game Pty Ltd. The restaurant and kiosk provide a passive way for visitors and the local community to enjoy and experience the coast.
‘At The Heads” was converted to a restaurant in the early 2000’s from a historical fisherman’s co-op building.
The refurbishment works are within the existing lease area and include the following elements
- Realignment of the building footprint and roofline to consolidate the ‘back of house area’ (including improvements to the kitchen, cool room, freezer, dry store).
- Relocation of the historic ‘Boot Room’, that is currently used as part of the restaurant dry storage area.
- Retention of the existing kiosk and the installation of new public seating area adjoining the kiosk.
The works will use external colours and finishes that complement the existing restaurant building. The proposed works are detailed in the architectural drawings drafted by 3id Architecture studio based in Geelong. The new public seating area will allow space for people to sit when visiting the kiosk, and generally provide some shelter from the prevailing southerly weather.
Construction Works – June to September 2025
Refurbishment works at “At The Heads” will take place from 10 June to late September 2025. During this time, the restaurant and the adjacent car park on the bridge side of the building will be closed to the public to allow safe and efficient completion of the works.
Key construction activities include
- Redesign and upgrade of the restaurant’s kitchen, storage areas, and staff amenities
- Realignment of the building footprint and roofline to improve functionality and consolidate back-of-house areas
- Relocation of the historic ‘Boot Room’ to a nearby position within the lease area, with interpretation to reflect its maritime heritage
- Retention of the existing kiosk, with improved public seating and amenity nearby
Barwon Coast is working closely with the tenant and contractors to minimise disruption during the construction period. The kiosk will reopen as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.
While the main car park will be closed, alternative parking is available nearby at
- Lahey Square, near the Barwon Heads Bridge (directions)
- adjacent to the Barwon Coast Discovery Centre (directions)
- Frank Ellis Reserve (directions), and
- the Barwon Bluff lookout (directions).
We thank the community for their understanding while this important upgrade is delivered.
Historical Boot Room
A component of the refurbishment works is the relocation of the ‘Boot Room’. The Boot Room is a structure of local historical significance linked to the Barwon Heads jetties and maritime activities at Barwon Heads since the 19th century.
Currently, the Boot Room is part of the overall building structure of the “At the Heads” restaurant. The refurbishment works include the relocation and reconstruction of this structure to a place where it can be publicly accessed.
Community Consultation
Barwon Coast recently ran a three-week community consultation process on the “At The Heads” refurbishment proposal. We were interested in your views on the external and public-related elements of the proposed works.
The community provided their feedback through an online survey that was open from 5-25 August 2024. There was also a drop in information sessions on Sunday 18 August at, “At The Heads” restaurant.
The Community Consultation Report provides a summary of what we heard from the surveys. This information will be considered as part of the Marine and Coastal Act consent process.