A 100-YEAR-OLD JEWEL, THE IMPERIAL AT CLIFTON’S NEW CHAPTER PAYS HOMAGE TO ITS ROOTS WHILE CELEBRATING A BRIGHT FUTURE
Words Dani Sherring Images Michael Boyle Photography, Kramer Photography
After sitting idle for almost 20 years, The Imperial at Clifton reopened its doors in 2021 as a bespoke hospitality venue encompassing a restaurant, cafe and events space. The historic pub was first built in 1884 as a watering hole for the community, which consisted mainly of miners and their families.
After 100 years of service, the picturesque pub shut up shop in the early 2000s, and sat unused, bustling with memories, until 2015, when Shellharbour Workers' Club took over the then-dilapidated venue and oversaw five years of careful and considerate refurbishments to transform The Imperial at Clifton into a sophisticated yet charming reincarnation of days gone by – a space which pays homage to the historic roots of the iconic building and also the town of Clifton, itself.
There are heritage features everywhere you look – climb the original timber staircase, take a seat on the reinstated front terrace or cosy up to one of five original fireplaces. Ninety per cent of the original tiles from the old bar still line the walls. Many of the original window frames and walls have been restored, while joists have been reused as decor to line the front of the bar and door frames. And the result is impressive. The Imperial at Clifton celebrates its past while welcoming a big and beautiful future.
“The historic restoration of such an iconic venue was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we simply couldn’t pass up,” says Debbie Cosmos, CEO of Shellharbour Workers’ Club Ltd. “We set out to breathe new life into the venue while retaining the historic features of the building and telling the story of the mining town of Clifton. At the essence, the reopening was about returning a dilapidated venue back to the community.”
Not only does the building have historical significance for the town of Clifton and the wider Illawarra community, but its clifftop location, which overlooks the ocean, has made for a truly spectacular site to welcome diners from near and far.
“Acknowledging the significance of the building was incredibly important and we set out to restore it to its former glory.”
The star of the venue is the main dining space on the ground floor, from which guests can see nothing but infinite sea through the glass wall. But the venue also boasts a grassy courtyard area that catches the ocean breeze, a huge events space upstairs, and the front bar, where pictures of the original pub and the transformation that ensued line the walls as well as nods to former licensees. This wasn’t simply about making over an iconic venue – the story of the venue and the township of Clifton were also at the forefront.
“From the get-go, the team remained committed to giving the abandoned building a new life as an on-trend food and beverage venue, while retaining the historical features of the building,” says Debbie. “Acknowledging the significance of the building was incredibly important and we set out to restore it to its former glory.”
And to accompany such a stunning overhaul, this clifftop space needed a food offering to match its design. The handcrafted menu at The Imperial at Clifton is creative and imaginative – ‘classics’ with a point of difference. Think prawn rolls with daikon, pickled chilli and celery; chicken schnitzel with spring onion mash or salt and pepperberry whitebait. Breakfast is also on offer as are teatime treats and coffee served from the on-site cafe. Or if a picnic nearby is what you’re after, gourmet hampers filled with antipasto, fresh seafood or sweet indulgences can be purchased and delivered to nearby coastal spots by The Imperial Express – the venue’s bus.
“Our kitchen team changes the menu seasonally to ensure that we incorporate the freshest of produce and showcase the best of what’s on offer all while keeping sustainability as our primary goal,” says Michael Heslin, General Manager of The Imperial at Clifton. “Our seafood tower, which is available on weekends is a real favourite, our mussels are popular and so are our burgers – they’ve got quite the following! But ‘The GG’ one of our delicious dessert items has quickly become one of our signatures – it looks amazing and tastes even better!”
The kitchen team led by head chef Michael Munro, who has 18 years’ experience working in both fine and casual dining, are also committed to using local produce – mussels are sourced from Jervis Bay, the bread is from local sourdough legends Pane Paradiso and the mushrooms come from Mittagong.
What's behind the bar also pays respect to the area with a few local brews on tap. It’s clear that The Imperial at Clifton team place heavy focus on showcasing the best of what the Illawarra has to offer, from produce to alcohol to the unmatched vista. “It was extremely important to us to show the Illawarra off to locals and tourists alike,” says Michael.
But vodka and bourbon aren’t the only spirits said to inhabit the walls of the venue. There are also reports that Mrs Miller, the wife of previous licensee George Miller, who passed in 1914 wanders the halls, keeping an eye on the tidiness of her old home. “We’re yet to see her though,” says Michael. “It seems we’re doing a good job of keeping the place spick and span!”
A good job indeed – since it’s reopening, The Imperial at Clifton has been flooded with guests keen to admire the makeover while sipping on a spritz, picking at burrata and local marinated olives, and sharing stories of times spent in this grand old dame in days gone by.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved thus far,” says Michael. “The overwhelming response is so positive. The community has been so supportive of our efforts. We love hearing the nostalgic stories mixed in with the appreciation of how we’ve honoured the building’s heritage. We can’t wait to see more memories being made in these walls.”
315 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Clifton