Residents at Bolton Clarke’s Cabrini Retirement Village in Westmead will be excited to hear that they soon won’t have to go far for a coffee, with plans for a new café given the seal of approval.
Cumberland Council has recently approved a Development Application (DA) for a new café on the ground floor of Deskford House, located within the Cabrini Retirement Village.
The Statement of Environment Effects (SEE) said the café is “ancillary to the overall retirement village”, and will provide a central place for visitors and residents to gather and enjoy quality time, without the need to leave the site.
“The proposal will provide a food and drink premises that will service residents of the retirement village, onsite employees, visitors and local residents,” the document said.
“This will improve amenity and enable residents, employees, visitors and local residents to better meet their day-to-day needs.”
The application said the conversion of the ground floor of the historic Deskford House to a café will respect and retain significant features and architectural elements, enabling its appreciation by visitors. Original elements such as the fireplaces, ceiling and timber cornices are also set to be retained and restored.
“The proposed changes to the historic house and the ‘Chapel’ will improve their relationship with the residential seniors living facility on the overall site,” the Heritage Impact Statement said.
Located at 41 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, the café will be open from 7am to 6pm, seven days a week. It will be operated by Bolton Clarke RACF staff, offering seating for 28 patrons underneath the existing canopy.
“It will provide a range of pastries, pies, sandwiches and salads. The ready to eat meals will be prepared within the commercial kitchen of the RACF and reheated within the café prior to serving,” the SEE added.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.