Overview
One of Sydney's most distinct locations is set to be reinvented with several new hospitality venues arriving next year. Part of the historic Sydney Harbour island, Fort Denison will be transformed into a restaurant offering fresh produce and unbeatable views with an ex-Aria chef at the helm.
The new restaurant is spearheaded by hospitality collective The Point Group and will pay homage to Fort Denison's historic significance as a former defence facility. Patrons will be offered a unique dining experience featuring uninterrupted views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Sydney city skyline. The boundary-pushing restaurant will champion a menu focused on sustainable seafood and local Australian produce.
Alongside the opening of the island restaurant, The Point Group's proposal will reimagine Fort Denison with educational tours to help visitors appreciate the island's unique heritage and significance in history. A casual dining area, bar and wine room, and three exhibition spaces are also outlined in the proposal along with new interpretive installations.
Joel Nickford and Brett Robinson
The Point Group has secured a 25-year lease of the iconic Sydney site. NSW Environmental Minister Matt Kean said the proposal submitted by the hospitality collective delivered "a state-of-the-art visitor experience for the whole community to enjoy, that celebrates the unique heritage and environmental values of this iconic site".
Overseeing the food at Fort Denison Dining will be The Point Group's newly appointed Culinary Director Joel Bickford. Bickford has spent the last four years leading Aria's culinary team as Executive Chef and will now work in collaboration with The Point Group's Co-Founder and Director Brett Robinson to curate the dining experiences across The Point's venues. Bickford is known for his refined and innovative culinary style with a preference for seasonal Australian ingredients.
Shell House
The same hospitality group has also been hard at work transforming another historic Sydney building. Announced back in May and originally slated to open in July before the latest Sydney lockdown, Sydney mainstay The Shell House is set to reopen inside the new multibillion-dollar Brookfield Place development under the guidance of The Point Group. The venue is now slated to open in October, pending public health orders, and will feature The Menzies Bar, a ground floor bar and bistro, and The Dining Room, a light-filled open kitchen, as well as a Mediterranean-influence rooftop bar with 360-degree views of Sydney.
The Shell House is located at 2 Carrington Street, Sydney and is expected to open in October 2021. Fort Dennison Dining is set to open in September 2022.