Inside the once-charming Paragon, a heartbreaking discovery is made
Squatters, thieves and vandals have wrecked and defaced the heritage-listed Greek cafe the Paragon in Katoomba, with graffiti saying 'RIP' across its famous Moruya-marble soda fountain.
Photos of damage to the interior of the 110-year-old art deco cafe were mailed anonymously to Friends of the Paragon, a group that has been lobbying to save what was once one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Blue Mountains.
'The interior has been absolutely trashed,' said Friends president Rob Strange. 'Mirrors, marble, the bars and furniture with their very detailed plasterwork have been just daubed with graffiti.'
Responding to news of the damage, NSW Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe said: 'There has been a failure to protect this item. I have asked Heritage NSW to look at any action they can take to rectify this problem.'
Strange said locks on the building had been repeatedly cut with bolt cutters, and there had been reports of squatters and parties on the premises. Drug paraphernalia and empty beer bottles had also been left near where generations of families once enjoyed afternoon tea, hamburgers and sodas.
There was water damage a metre high in the famous ballroom, holes in walls and floors, and furniture had been broken and stolen.
Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle said the state of disrepair of 'our beautiful Paragon' was dire. The break-ins had increased the building's exposure to the weather.
Representatives of the Blue Mountains City Council visited the Paragon last week. A spokesperson said officers documented 'further evidence of deterioration', which was sent to Heritage NSW.
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