The Macedon Tea Rooms are set to be upgraded in a major refurbishment deal.
The Benito Family Pty Ltd have been awarded the new lease for the tea rooms, with plans to transform it into spectacular dining experience on top of a Mt Macedon.
The tea rooms have been closed since March after the previous operator’s lease ended.
The state government put the lease for the tea rooms out to tender in June last year, and in March this year, the tea rooms closed after the current lease expired.
Northern Metropolitan MP Wendy Lovell raised the issue in state parliament on March 18, questioning the delay.
This week, Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas welcomed the new deal with the family-owned company.
“The Mount Macedon Tea Rooms are an incredible economic and tourism asset for this community and the wider region – this will attract even more visitors to our beautiful region,” she said.
The tea rooms, which sit inside the Macedon Regional Park, are a popular spot for the over 300,000 visitors who come to the park to hike the summit and visit the Memorial Cross.
Works will begin within the coming weeks, with the building due to reopen later this year.
The family plans to add outdoor seating to take in the scenic views, evening dining, and space for events and functions.
While works take place, visitors can still enjoy a coffee at a mobile coffee van that will be available at the site.
Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos called the historic park a “special place”.
The tearooms opened to customers in 2000, replacing a building destroyed in the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires.
Alongside the tea rooms, the state government has invested $810,000 into upgrading the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross Reserve.
Details: parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/macedon-tea-rooms
