'Deep sense of nostalgia': Could Cronulla's historic 'Cecil' rise again?
Once a glamorous destination among Sydney’s elite, The Cecil was the place to be for a tipple and a bite – and now investors have a chance to revive a seaside icon, offered for sale for the first time in almost 30 years.
The Hotel Cecil – initially born from a humble oyster bar before being transformed into a luxury hotel in 1927 and later replaced by the 1988-built Cecil Apartments – gave way to the legendary Reflections Restaurant, a booming eatery that “helped define Cronulla’s identity”, according to listing agent Brad Lord of RWC.
Now, the site of the former restaurant – at 12/20 Gerrale Street, Cronulla – could be yours, just steps from a sandy surf beach directly accessible by train, 30 kilometres from Sydney’s CBD.
“There’s such a deep sense of nostalgia attached to this place,” says Lord, director at RWC’s Sutherland Shire. “Everyone in the hospitality world knows The Cecil and remembers Reflections Restaurant. We’re offering the chance to bring back a piece of Sydney’s social history.”
While the restaurant is long gone, opportunistic investors with a soft spot for heritage projects may pounce on what remains, including much of the original restaurant infrastructure, with flexible indoor and outdoor dining potential, as well as the preserved facade of the demolished Cecil Hotel.
The 680-square-metre corner space – suited to retail or hospitality ventures – provides a rare opportunity for a visionary operator to restore its glittering social scene legacy as a restaurant, bar, or event venue, taking advantage of floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Cronulla Beach and Dunningham Park, and a liquor licence for 302 patrons, plus 19 secure car spaces.
The property, leased to Snap Fitness since mid-2021, generates an annual holding income of approximately $326,000. The site is being offered in one grand offering, or as five individual lots, ranging in size from 80 square metres to 200 square metres.
“We have also worked with the vendor and architect to split the strata plan into five lots, creating unique retail and commercial offerings for buyers of all levels,” adds Lord.
A storied history
The Hotel Cecil wasn’t always so glamorous, starting out as a terracotta-brick block of flats constructed in 1916 by influential developer Cecil Owen James “Joe” Monro, a real-estate agent, councillor and shire president. Monro Flats, as they were known, featured a fish and oyster bar and Monro’s real estate office, overlooking Cronulla Beach and Cecil Park.
In 1927, spying potential, architects Moore and Dyer transformed it into the Hotel Cecil, a luxurious seaside hotel dubbed the “Sentinel of the Sea”. The venue gained popularity quickly during wartime, hosting guests, troops, and RAAF trainees.
Lord says conversations with locals recall a place that was very dear to many and remained a hub for entertainment for decades.
“While The Cecil was before my time, many long standing members of the community talk about what this place meant to Cronulla locals,” he says. “Each story always starts and ends with a smile, suggesting it was the place to be. Everyone remembers it; the atmosphere, the energy, and the view. This wasn’t just another restaurant; it was a landmark.”
As time went on, the hotel was no longer the place it once was, with growing day tourism evolving the suburb. By 1987, approval was granted to replace the hotel with the Cecil Apartments, which were completed the following year.
At street level, behind the hotel’s retained heritage facade, a collection of high-end retail and commercial spaces was created, including Reflections Restaurant, which has earned a reputation as one of the finest dining venues in Sydney, frequently serving more than 1000 guests a day, according to Lord.
“Because of what it was, this space deserves someone hospitality-minded, someone who understands how to create an experience,” Lord adds. “It’s time for a new generation to put their stamp on an address that still holds incredible emotional and cultural value.”
The property is offered for sale by expressions of interest, closing at 3pm on Thursday, December 11.
