Paragon Cafe, Katoomba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Paragon |
|
|---|---|
_Paragon_Cafe.JPG)
The Paragon Cafe, pictured in December 2010
|
|
| Location | 16 Katoomba Street, Katoomba, City of Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1909–1940 |
| Architect |
|
| Architectural style(s) | Interwar Art Deco |
| Official name: The Paragon; Paragon Restaurant | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 5 March 2015 |
| Reference no. | 1959 |
| Type | Cafe |
| Category | Retail and Wholesale |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Paragon Cafe is a famous heritage-listed restaurant. It is located at 63-69 Katoomba Street in Katoomba, Australia. This special cafe was designed over many years by different architects and designers. These included Harry & Ernest Sidgreaves, Harry Lindsay Blackwood, George Newton Kenworthy, and Otto Steen. It was built between 1909 and 1940. The Paragon Cafe is also known as the Paragon Restaurant or simply The Paragon. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on March 5, 2015, because of its important history and unique style.
Contents
A Look Back: The Paragon Cafe's Story
Early History of the Blue Mountains
Before European settlers arrived, the Blue Mountains were home to many Aboriginal groups. Six main tribal groups have strong connections to this land. These include the Darug, Gandangurra, Wanaruah, Wiradjuri, Darkinjung, and Tharawal peoples.
Evidence shows that Aboriginal people lived here for possibly 22,000 years. The Blue Mountains have many important sites. These sites show the deep connection Aboriginal people have had with their land for thousands of years.
You can find ancient campsites, stone tools, and amazing rock art. The art includes drawings, paintings, and stencils of people, animals, and handprints.
How Katoomba Grew
Katoomba started differently from other towns in the Blue Mountains. In 1874, trains stopped there to pick up stone from a quarry.
The first settlement was near Katoomba Falls. Here, John Britty North opened a coal mine in 1878. There were small villages near the falls and deep in the valley.
A man named James Henry Neale owned a lot of land in central Katoomba. In 1881, he sold his land to Frederick Clissold. Clissold then divided the land into blocks and created the streets we know today. These included Parke, Katoomba, and Lurline Streets.
Katoomba quickly changed from a mining area to a busy town. Shops, restaurants, and guesthouses appeared. Many churches were also built.
Tourists and new residents needed local services. So, the area between the train station and Waratah Street filled with shops and cafes. The Paragon Cafe's site was an empty space until 1909. That year, William Newlind built four shops there.
The Paragon Cafe and Zacharias Simos
In 1916, one of these shops became a refreshment room called The Paragon. This was at the start of a new trend in Australia: the Greek cafe. Many Greek immigrants, often with experience from the United States, opened cafes. These cafes mixed Greek coffee-house traditions with American soda parlours.
One such immigrant was Zacharias Theodore "Jack" Simos. He arrived from Greece in 1912 when he was just fifteen. He worked in Greek cafes in Sydney and other towns. By 1916, he was in Katoomba. He opened his own place called the Paragon Cafe and Oyster Palace.
In 1924, Zacharias Simos bought the shops at 65 and 67 Katoomba Street. He wanted to make The Paragon a special place.
In 1925, Zacharias hired H. & E. Sidgreaves, who were experts in shop design. He also worked with local architect Harry Lindsay Blackwood. They transformed the cafe's inside with a beautiful Art Deco style.
They installed a soda fountain made of fine marble and booths of Queensland maple wood. The walls were decorated with plaster figures from ancient Greek stories. The beautiful leadlight shopfronts, which are still there today, were likely added then.
Upstairs, Zacharias had a "sweet factory." Here, he made ice cream and chocolates. This industrial part of The Paragon was very important. Zacharias's brothers, George and Peter, joined him. George was a master confectioner, and they became "Simos Brothers."
The chocolate-making equipment was very advanced for its time. The Simos brothers bought machinery from around the world. Some came from France, America, and England. This shows they wanted the best quality for their products.
In 1929, Zacharias traveled to Europe. He learned about new trends in sweets and cafe culture. He also met Mary (Maria) Panaretos in Greece. They married in 1930 and returned to Katoomba.
Zacharias and Mary worked together to make The Paragon a top-class cafe. Mary was known for welcoming visitors and giving chocolates to children.
Zacharias also added two large extensions to the cafe. These were the banquet hall (1934) and the blue room (1936). The blue room had mirrored walls and a dance floor. These designs are now believed to be by architect George Newton Kenworthy.
In the late 1930s, Zacharias and Mary built a stunning Streamline Moderne style house called Olympus. It was also designed by G. N. Kenworthy.
After World War II, a sculpture by Otto Steen was added to the Dining Room. It showed characters from Greek mythology. Otto Steen was a student of Raynor Hoff, a famous sculptor.
The Paragon became very famous. Its ice creams were made by hand, and its chocolates were sold in beautiful boxes. It was also known for its stylish cocktail bar.
In the 1930s, Mary Simos bought the shop at number 69. This meant the Simos family controlled three shops (65, 67, and 69).
Zacharias Simos was a community leader. He was a founding member of the Katoomba Rotary Club. He loved gardening, music, and fishing. He passed away in 1976, and Mary continued to manage The Paragon until 1987.
Recent Times
The cafe was sold in 2000. It has kept its amazing Interwar Art Deco style.
Robyn Parker managed The Paragon from 2011 to 2018. She worked hard to restore its original beauty. She also helped get the cafe listed on the NSW State Heritage Register. The cafe closed in May 2018 after she left.
The Architects and Artists Behind The Paragon
Harry and Ernest Sidgreaves
Harry and Ernest Sidgreaves started their shopfitting business in Sydney in 1917. They became known for designing shop interiors. They helped create the classical Art Deco look inside The Paragon in 1925. Their company still works on major stores today.
Otto Steen
Otto Steen was a sculptor who studied in Copenhagen and Sydney. He worked on the ANZAC War Memorial in Sydney. His work at The Paragon includes relief sculptures showing Greek mythology. These sculptures reflect his classical style.
George Newton Kenworthy
G. N. Kenworthy was a leading architect. He worked on many theatres and cinemas in the 1930s, often in the Art Deco style. He is now believed to be the architect for The Paragon's later extensions in the 1930s. He also designed the Simos family's house, Olympus.
What The Paragon Looks Like
The Paragon building at 63-69 Katoomba Street has two floors. It features a beautiful Art Deco style from the 1930s. The ground floor has shops.
The northern shops still have their original copper-clad shopfronts. You can see "Lloyds Jeweller" at No. 63 and "The Paragon" at No. 65. The Paragon also has curved display windows and tiled pillars.
The upper floor has balconies with multi-paned glass doors. A tall sign for The Paragon stands above the second bay. The building also has its original 1930s awning with a pressed metal ceiling.
Inside, The Paragon restaurant still has its amazing Art Deco design. The front area has wooden panels and booth seating. The chairs even have a "P" for Paragon!
The back rooms include a ballroom/dining room with wooden walls. It has a curved plaster ceiling, inspired by ocean liner designs. There's also a bar (the former banquet hall) with plaster decorations showing pre-Columbian patterns. Even the toilets keep their original look!
The other shops at 63 and 69 Katoomba Street have been updated inside. However, some older parts might still be there at No. 63.
Condition of the Building
As of 2013, the building was in good condition. It needed some care inside and protection from rain.
The Paragon is very well preserved. It still has many of its important Art Deco details.
Changes Over Time
- 1925: Interior design by H & E Sidgreaves (for shops 65-67).
- 1934: Banquet Hall added.
- 1936: Blue Room added.
- 1930s: Neighboring shop (No. 69) became part of The Paragon.
- 1940: Classical plaques by Otto Steen installed.
