The old is making way for the new and sophisticated in Maitland’s historic High Street.
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Pavers have come up in what was the 1988 Heritage Mall and have been replaced with porphyry stone blocks, while workers replace the road surface to reopen The Levee to one-way traffic.
Sydney-based company Landscape Solutions will complete the work on The Levee in January or February.
Ground was broken on the new-look city centre in the first week of June and stage one of the project was expected to take 36 weeks.
Overall, retailers were prepared to endure some pain for the short term so they could enjoy long-term business benefits in a modern, fresh and beautified main street.
Additions to The Levee include 12 long, timber benches installed adjacent to trees for shade, 20 table and bench chair sets with shade structures, and an additional three tables and chairs with shade structures adjacent to a proposed kiosk.
Then there is the influx of trendy and popular wine bars and cafes dotted along High Street, with more expected to come to the CBD when The Levee is completed.
The Temple Bar and King Bill IV have opened at the western end of High Street.
There is plenty of action at the eastern end of the city’s main street with boutique wine bar the Sax Bar now open across the road from The Pourhouse and the newest offering Marmook and Poom Poom’s Cafe and Bar.
All share a place in historic buildings dating back to 19th century High Street and have made use of old-world architecture and ambience.