A refurbishment of a notable Ballarat pub has begun, with a glassy and leafy atrium on the way.
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Safety fencing has been put up around The North Star Hotel at 302 Lydiard Street North, formerly known as Seymours on Lydiard until its closure in last year July.
According to planning documents obtained by The Courier, the major overhaul of the pub will create a 'Melbourne-inspired' layout with an outdoor bar and glass atrium. It is expected to open later in the year.
When planning applications were submitted to City of Ballarat in September last year, iPlanning Services Pty Ltd director James Iles, who acts on behalf of the owner and developer, said the new hotel would feed into Soldiers Hill becoming the "new Fitzroy of Ballarat".
"The whole intent is to breathe new life into the pub, get it operating again," he said.
"The mezzanine is directed toward providing more light into the pub, with some outdoor areas which will provide that sort of opportunity for people to have a drink outside."
A weatherboard and iron section behind the heritage hotel will be demolished, to make way for new eating areas and an outdoor upstairs bar overlooking Seymour Street.
A new sunken dining area on the ground floor with indoor feature trees will be directly below a glass pyramid-shaped atrium, located inside the original building on the first floor.
The design was created by Ballarat firm TR Design for the Lydiard Street building's owner, Brett Quinlan, who co-owns the Lake View Hotel. Mr Quinlan declined a request for interview by The Courier.
In an announcement on Facebook, Lake View Hotel Group's Nathan Tracy said the company had appointed Ballarat and Werribee-based builder Resicare, with construction to start imminently.
