Nowra's grand old lady, the former Woodhills, Grace Bros, Spotlight store in the Nowra CBD has been brought back to life.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Over the past 10 months the 130-year-old plus building, which is a link to Nowra's earliest retail history, has undergone a multi-million makeover by South Coast and Illawarra businessmen Maurice Bertapelle and Ralph Rugiano from Iconic Property Holdings, part of the Iconic Group.
The once "pigeon coop, which leaked like a sieve, had mould everywhere and was a dilapidated structure" has been transformed into a state of the art office complex that it is estimated between 200 and 300 people will work in.
Anyone who has driven past the building could not have noticed its transformation, especially at night when, of late, the lights have been left on making for a stunning show.
And there have certainly been plenty of locals seen, with faces pressed to the glass windows, peering inside.
Many of the local contractors who worked on the project and some special local guests were given the opportunity to have a look inside the now finished building, which boasts 2000 square metres of office space, before it officially opens.
The building, which fronts Berry Street, Emporium Lane and Stewart Place has undergone massive changes.
Mr Bertapelle remains as enthusiastic about the building now as the first day he walked into it.
"I've always said it had good bones and I knew what my vision was, I could see it whenever I closed my eyes and was always confident we could achieve it," he said.
"However, she's thrown up a few challenges along the way and we've had to overcome them.
She's thrown up a few challenges along the way and we've had to overcome them.There has been lots of sweat, a little bit of blood but thankfully no tears yet.
- Maurice Bertapelle
"There has been lots of sweat, a little bit of blood but thankfully no tears yet."
He admitted there "were those at the start who said just knock it down".
"We were never going to do that - we always knew what we could achieve," he said.
Although, he said at times the challenges were immense "especially on the hip pocket".
"But what we have achieved is something very very special," he said.
"Something Nowra has never seen before - we have incorporated all the modern facilities needed within such a building.
"Something I hope Nowra can be, and is very proud of."
Another pleasing aspect to the building's redevelopment is the fact the majority of the work was carried out by local contractors.
"Three quarters of the major work was done by local contractors,"Mr Bertapelle said.
"That's money that stays in the Shoalhaven. Wherever we could, despite our vast contacts, we tried to use locals.
"Everything electrical, air conditioning, plumbing throughout the whole building has been replaced. We've changed the glass, the roof has been fixed. The pigeons are gone."
It's something I hope Nowra can be, and is very proud of.
- Maurice Bertapelle
A 100 kilowatt solar panel system now powers 70 per cent of the building's power consumption, which includes the installation of two lifts and a "state of the art" air conditioning unit with special UVA filters, according to Mr Bertapelle, which have the ability to kill of viruses, bacteria and flus.
"We have used the best and most advanced system possible," he said "this is the sort of system all buildings will eventually be using.
"We have also used special environmentally friendly paints throughout that are antibacterial, while also remaining asthma friendly.
"Everything we have done is to bring the building into the 21st century, from the designs to the specially designed air conditioning, the bathrooms including showers.
"It will be one of the healthiest buildings in Australia, apart from hospitals.
"Creating work spaces that are as healthy as possible which in turn means better productivity from your workforce because they are not ill.
"It is also about inspiring your workforce to think outside the square and to do that you've got to be in a building that is outside the square and this building certainly is that.
"We have a five and half star power consumption, five star health, five star luxury and five star office space - this is more Sydney style than even Wollongong. Certainly something Nowra has never had before."
And yes the historic steps in the centre of the building have been retained and are a central feature to the Berry Street ground floor entrance.
"The stairs are just so beautiful, they were always staying and being a major feature," he said.
"It's [the work] is certainly a big change. We've bought the building back to life and hopefully given it a new life for a few more hundred years."
This is something Nowra has never had before. We've bought the building back to life and hopefully given it a new life for a few more hundred years.
- Maurice Bertapelle
He's also hopeful the investment will encourage others to look at Nowra and work to revitalise the CBD.
"Nowra is a great town," he said.
Read more: Yes, of course there is a ghost story
"It's been very welcoming to us and we are very appreciative of that.
"I believe Nowra is the South Coast's diamond in the rough.
"It has untold possibilities - I can see Nowra easily becoming the number one regional conference centre in NSW.
"It's on the way already - it has the entertainment centre and other venues that are capable of holding big conferences.
"The other infrastructure, likes roads and bridges, is happening.
"The only thing the area lacks is the amount of accommodation to sustain it.
Nowra is the South Coast's diamond in the rough.It has untold possibilities - I can see Nowra easily becoming the number one regional conference centre in NSW.
- Maurice Bertapelle
"I'd like to see council have a full time conference manager and get the momentum of selling the place as a conference destination.
"Nowra's got a great town centre in terms of a mixture of heritage buildings that could get restored and bring more people into the area.
"It has the opportunity to be something very special and we hope by us undertaking the restoration of the building it will revitalise the Nowra CBD.
"Hopefully other property owners see this and think 'wow we should do something with our property'.
"The people [of Nowra] are so resilient. They have been through drought, fires, floods, COVID but are always very welcoming.
"We have been blown away by the responses we have received from people walking past and commenting on what we were doing with the building.
"They are the most lovely, positive, resilient people I have ever met and have been so warm in their welcome.
"We have met so many people who have a connection with this building and it's great to be able to keep that alive."
Mr Bertapelle thanked all the contractors and those involved in the build in making their vision come true.
Let's take the tour!
Entering the building off Berry Street you walk into a large foyer area, complete with a small coffee shop.
The historic stairs are a focal point and have been completely refurbished, complete with new metal balustrade (and yes you can still slide on them).
Venturing out onto the main level there is a massive area that can be one large office space or has the ability to be partitioned off into individual offices.
One feature on the southern wall is virtual windows - each having a specific Shoalhaven scene which can be interchanged if required.
To the north, superb large windows have been put in place, allowing the area to be superbly lit by natural light.
A slide down the stairs, I mean walk down the historic staircase, and the large ground level space has been divided into two specific areas.
To the north is the area known as the garden space - again large windows have been installed allowing a light space and gardens have been installed outside the windows to create a relaxing work space.
The southern office space again features virtual windows featuring Shoalhaven scenes.
"It's hard, we are below ground level here," Mr Bertapelle said.
"We again installed the virtual windows to make it inviting."
Both these spaces, can of course, be used as one large space or have the ability to be divided.
Back onto Berry Street and one of the oldest parts of the building (the former Spotlight Spartys section) has also undergone an incredible transformation, however the historic doors and entrance way remain.
This space will become the new regional home for RMB Lawyers.
Individual offices, conference rooms and a kitchenette have been installed.
Upstairs to the historic former residence and it's just like walking back into the 1880s, as it originally would have been.
Upstairs the historic former residence is just like walking back into the 1880s, as it originally would have been.
Where possible all the heritage features like architraves and large skirting boards have been retained and where they couldn't they have been reproduced with the same profiles.
Historic 130-year-old glass over the top of the doors have been retained and kitchens and bathrooms, in keeping with the time period, have been installed.
The original timber floorboards have been retained throughout, sanded and stained to provide a stunning finish.
The veranda on the northern side of the building has been restored, complete with new balustrade and ornate lacework, providing stunning views over Nowra.
Again this whole floor could be used as office space by one individual business or the rooms could become individual office spaces.
And if you're wondering, like many long-time locals are, yes, during the renovations they did discover the opening to the famed tunnel from the building that runs to Junction Street.
But no, they did not open it, the door was in a location that did not allow it to be opened and as Mr Bertapelle put it "sometimes it's better to leave things alone".
Les is delighted to see the building restored to former glory
He was among a number of special guests to be given a tour of the now fully refurbished store and was "thrilled by what he saw."
"It's excellent," he said.
"It's great to see it's been given a whole new lease on life.
"Seeing what they have done is great, especially upstairs in the old residence.
"The way they have done it back to the year it was virtually built is fantastic."
Mr Bryant has actually made a few visits to the building during its refurbishment, passing on snippets of its history to Maurice Bertapelle.
"We've become great friends," he said.
It's great to see it's been given a whole new lease on life.Seeing what they have done is great, especially upstairs in the old residence is fantasic.
- Les Bryant
Mr Bryant said his favourite part of the makeover is definitely the upstairs area.
"We used it as a tea room at one stage," he said.
Over the years it was also used as offices and storage.
"I remember there being boxes all over the place at times," he said.
"Eventually we had an old tea room, the new kitchen in there is spotless."
He also praised the work on the historic staircase.
"They've been done up really well too," he said.
In fact, underneath the stairs, a community time capsule has been put in place, which the Bryants and various other local families and community groups have placed items.
"We made a booklet from our family and put that in, along with all the books from the Grace Bros and back to Woodhills day," he said.
"I asked some of the former staff if they thought we should put them in and they all thought it was a great idea.
"And let the building be the caretaker."
Longtime-councillor praises vision
Greg Watson is born and bred in Shoalhaven and has been a Shoalhaven City Councillor for more than 40 years.
He has also witnessed many of the historic building's incarnations.
"This is the impossible dream," he said after touring the building and seeing first hand its stunning makeover.
"Just over the moon it has been retained.
"And to see it now...it's just beautiful. They have done an incredible job.
This is the impossible dream. Just over the moon it has been retained. And to see it now...it's just beautiful. They have done an incredible job.
- Cr Greg Watson
"Maurice and Ralph have set the standard for the future redevelopment of Nowra's buildings and streetscapes.
"It is my view, many years ago we made a mistake when instigating streetscaping in Junction Street.
"We should have retained more of our posts and awnings, even the hitching rails.
"We didn't do that. The Prince of Wales Hotel should never have been demolished.
"This is one piece of Shoalhaven history that has been retained."
Cr Watson said over the years he and his mother had often shopped in the building.
"You got everything from there whether it was Woodhills or other incarnations," he said.