Lake Macquarie's historic Awaba House, gutted by fire in August 2019, is poised for a revival in mid-2026 under new management. The Catering Group, founded in 2019 by Greg Barclay and chef Adham Aston, has signed a five-year lease with a five-year option from Lake Macquarie City Council.
The company, which operates five venues in Sydney including the Lantern Club at Roselands and Iluka on Baywater at Wentworth Point, plans to transform the site into a lakeside destination. Barclay described the vision as 'a place where great food, creativity and community come together', with menus featuring regional NSW produce and native Australian ingredients.
The rebuild, located beside the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, and MAC yapang Sculpture Park, preserves the heritage facade and round portico. The new structure includes a 120-seat restaurant with lake views, a flexible function space for up to 120 guests, a curved rammed-earth wall, a north-eastern deck, and an atrium detailing the site's history.
Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz praised the plan, stating, 'We wanted this to be a destination people talk about and travel to.' Final fit-out and kitchen installation are scheduled for early 2026, ahead of the grand opening.
