Welcome to bowery
Make your way to BOWERY, an exciting concept in the heart of the Blue Mountains at Katoomba.
Housed inside the Federation Romanesque-style St. Andrew's Church, which dates back to 1913, BOWERY is not only a restaurant, but a beautiful architectural setting.
The team behind Katoomba’s iconic Avalon Restaurant and Cocktail Bar have reinvented this historic building to create a unique and memorable dining and entertainment venue.
Lead by Dylan Brookes and David Cartwright, BOWERY is all about enjoying simple, delicious food with your favourite people.
The culinary team offer an ever-changing menu made for sharing, which focusses on locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients.
Start with a selection of small plates, mostly plant-based, or a house-made charcuterie plate. Move on to flavour-packed mains, perhaps the sirloin, chicken or snapper. And always leave room for dessert – our creme caramel will keep you coming back for more…
Drinks are imaginative and showcase local producers, including wines from the nearby central ranges, handcrafted cocktails utilising Australian-made spirits, and unique craft beers brewed right here in Katoomba.
Take a seat in the atmospheric light-filled dining hall, or under the parasols in our leafy courtyard and soak up the fun, flavour and relaxed vibes at BOWERY.
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
BOWERY was initially built as Katoomba’s Presbyterian Church, opening on January 25th 1914.
Inspiration for the Church came from Reverend Robert Alexander Redmond, who was a Presbyterian Minister at Leura and Wentworth Falls between 1905 and 1911.
In 1911 the vacant land on the corner of Waratah and Lurline Streets was purchased for £50, and the local people decided to proceed to build ‘a substantial and ornate church’.
In July 1913 two foundations stones were laid by the Moderator, the Rev. Alexander Smith and by Albert Kemp, the first resident owner of Lilianfels, a wealthy drug-manufacturer, who helped fund the new Church. The stones can be seen at the front of the building.
During construction several winter storms, with strong westerly winds, caused some of the partially built walls to collapse, but the Church was eventually built.
The Architect was Mr P. Gordon Craig; the builder was Mr A.M. Duncan and the Stonemason was Mr Pattison , who also built the Carrington Hotel’s front stone wall, gates and Piazza foundations.
The builder completed the church promptly and the church was inaugurated on Burns Day (25 January) 1914.
Sadly, Rev. Redmond never worshipped in the Church, as he had died in the course of 1911, aged 42. However, to honour the deeply respected Minister, a memorial stained glass window (designed by ‘Tarrant and Co’ of Darlinghurst) was installed into the Waratah Street end of the building.
After fifty years the church faced difficulties with a declining congregation, and in July 1968 the decision to close the church was made.
The building later housed an antique shop, restaurant and cafe. The original pulpit and the Redmond window are conserved.
