Teeming with history, Berrima Vault House is set to ooze old-world sophistication when it launches on Saturday, May 1.
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Originally hand-built in 1844 by convicts, Berrima Vault house will blend old and new to create a contemporary five-star hospitality venue.
With multiple bars, a restaurant, a private members area and accommodation upstairs, the venue was designed as a place for guests to relax, have fun, explore and work remotely.
Co-founder and Southern Highland resident Simon Philby and his wife Carlie Philby have worked hard to get the project off the ground and even made some surprising finds along the way.
With whispers of vaults and tunnels embedded in Berrima's history, Simon and Carlie got quite the surprise when a tunnel was located.
"We got a digital image from the building team going, 'We found it, have a look at this'," Simon said.
"It was a really amazing visual, sort of spooky because obviously there was no sound. It was just high definition imagery.
"It was pretty exciting. It looks like another jail cell but thinner and the hallway ends under the periphery of the building, with what looks like a sealed doorway."
While Simon and Carlie can't be too sure, the tunnel may have led back to Berrima Gaol.
"It's very possible," he said.
"It would've gone straight across [to the jail] and apparently there are several sealed vaults under the jail too."
While the building has been brought into the modern age, it has retained its historical purpose.
"This was a public house in 1844 and we wanted to relaunch as one in 2021," Simon said,
"So we kept everything in between, the stories, the items, materials and atmospheres that could be retained and be presented.
"From the fireplaces to the brickwork, to bits of furniture that could be restored and renewed. It was about respecting the past and re-presenting for the future."
For Simon and Carlie, the hardest part of the restoration was downstairs in the jail cells, which had been left in a state of disrepair.
"In terms of structural renovation, I would say without a doubt it was the hardest part," Carlie said.
The biggest issue according to Simon was that the venue had been vacant for the past 18 months.
"There was just an accumulation of history that needed sorting out," he said.
"The biggest challenge was the scale of the building. It's the first time the building has been presented as one.
"Historically it was three different buildings, so it was trying to unify it."
Despite some challenges, there were some rewards when it came to uncovering historical significance.
"Exposing the jail bars was probably the most exciting part for me," Simon said.
"It really is the essence of the building."
The Berrima Vault House will have a soft opening on May 1, where there will be "great drinks, great music and a diverse crowd" according to Simon and Carlie.
You can check out Berrima Vault house at 11 Old Hume Highway, Berrima.
To make a reservation, book accommodation or make membership enquiries, visit https://www.berrimavaulthouse.com/
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