The fence banners have been teasing visitors to Tench Avenue for months.
And now, lovers of the Nepean River precinct will have another reason to descend on the area, with confirmation that new hospitality offering ‘The Orchard’ is set to be unveiled later this year.
Plans to develop 44-50 Tench Avenue, Jamisontown into a top class rural-themed food and drink destination were finally given Penrith Council approval earlier this month.
Once complete, the waterfront venue will boast an artisan bakery, dining and restaurant pavilion, weekend farmers markets, large farm-styled playground, florist, fish and chips store, and woodfired pizza shop.
Animal yards, where children can experience farm animals first hand, are also an exciting feature of the development.
The brainchild of successful hospitality operators Phillip Hallani, Terry Chaouk and Jacob Farragher, the project will be built just north of the East Bank hub.
Mr Farragher, who along with Mr Hallani owns Penrith’s Percy Plunkett cafe, said the new venture promises to offer something for the whole family to enjoy.
“We’re all proud western Sydney residents – we’re not interested in heading into the city and competing with those guys – we just like to concentrate out here,” he said.
“We really believe in the area and just want to deliver hospitality assets that the town deserves.”
The premises will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days per week and will also have a heavy focus on takeaways, with two coffee stations.
“You can come in and have a pastry and you can buy a cupcake and a coffee, milkshake for the kids and then sit in the garden, or you can come and dine-in in the pavilion,” he said.
The development will involve converting an existing dwelling into a restaurant, constructing several new structures and building car parking on site.
Once a commercial orchard, about 80 orange trees will be retained on the massive 2.3ha block, which will be landscaped throughout and include vegetable gardens.
Mr Farragher hopes the first sod will be turned in a matter of weeks.
“Ideally we would like to begin construction by the start of March and have the project open by the fourth quarter of this year,” he said.
Alena Higgins is the Weekender’s Senior News Reporter, primarily covering courts and Council issues.
