THE Imperial Clifton

So Imperial

Background

The Imperial Clifton is a hotel located on the coast south of Sydney. It is only a few hundred metres from Sea Cliff Bridge.

Originally the site was occupied by a small timber framed pub built for local miners in 1884.

After being bought by the Resch’s Brewery it was demolished and replaced by the existing building in 1911.

Lets move forward 80 years to the closure of the local coal mine in 1991. Not a good outcome for a nearby pub!

Things went from bad to worse when the main road on which The Imperial is located closed in 2003 due to persistent rockfalls, particularly after rain.

And guess what, the Imperial Clifton also closed in 2003.

The building was boarded up and fell into a state of disrepair until 2015 when a local club, the Shellharbour Workers Club, bought the pub.

The white knight comes riding to the rescue!

Renovation and extension

Due to vandalism and general decay a renovation of substance was required and the rear of the building was extended.

The renovation and extension have been sympathetically done to maintain and blend with the heritage features of the hotel.

When you drive towards the hotel from the south it is hard not to be impressed by the building’s grand stature.

The Imperial Clifton re-opened for business in 2020.

What’s in there

The Imperial Clifton does not offer any accommodation.

The bottom level (basement) can be accessed from the car park and is used for utilities (fireplace wood storage, bathroom, staff area).

Before entering the basement level from the car park consider having a look at the splendid views of the ocean from the small beer garden at the rear of the hotel.

The next level (ground level) is at street level due to the block sloping downwards towards the ocean.

To reach this level take the stairs or catch a lift up from the basement and observe historical newspaper articles covering the lift walls.

Alternatively ascend via the stairs and see a hand painted wall mural based on a 1961 photo of former staff and licensee of the hotel.

The ground floor has a public bar at the front, several small rooms, a large restaurant area facing the ocean, a commercial kitchen and a long bar on the south side of the building.

There are many features inside the Imperial that warrant mention:

- Some of the interior brick walls have had mortar removed leaving exposed brick which gives the interior a rustic feel;

- Large light fittings sourced from lighthouses greet visitors in the main foyer;

- First class joinery is evident throughout particularly if you look at the door and window frames and flooring;

- Several original fireplaces have been restored and a wood fire is lit in colder months;

- The mottled cream and orange wall tiles in the front bar have been matched with the original tiles;

- The dark timber floor throughout the hotel is reclaimed timber hardwood oiled with hardwax, creating an authentic feel for an early 1900s building;

- The front verandah has been rebuilt to look like the original balcony at the time the hotel was built;

- Two large gold leafed mirrors are placed either side of the front door, with one of the mirrors containing a short history;

- The internal walls have before and after renovation photos of the building whilst a television runs in the public bar outlining the building’s transformation.

The top level (level 1) of The Imperial is reserved for larger gatherings (weddings, events and corporate activities) and is similar in design and layout to the ground floor.

The Parlour

Across the hall from the front bar is a room known as The Parlour. It is a reminder of what was the norm in past decades.

Women in Australia were not allowed to drink with men in the public bars of hotels until the 1970s.

The Parlour or Ladies Lounge was a room where women at The Imperial Clifton could partake of alcoholic drinks prior to the relaxation of these laws.

The Parlour did not have its own bar but provided drinks to women through a server with a special hatch!

Our view

A great deal of thought and effort went into renovating and modernizing this building whilst maintaining its heritage features.

The Imperial Clifton is a lovely building and the high ceilings, views from rear, airiness and the adaptive reuse of materials is a pleasure to see and enjoy.

Indulge yourself in a cappuccino or piccolo, a cold beverage or a meal whilst admiring the pizzazz of a cleverly re-birthed historic building.