Sleepy no longer: How the overhaul of the local pub is reshaping Patonga

It’s still a small fishing village, but Patonga has ditched the “sleepy” label with the relaunch of The Boathouse Hotel following a reported $5 million refurbishment.

The waterside pub has long been a favourite stop for fish and chips, but these days you’ll be rubbing elbows with patrons from far and wide who have come to sample the smoked salmon fritters for breakfast, the crumbed Dory burger for lunch or the Patonga pork ribs for dinner, paired with one of 17 beers.

Obstetrician Dr Ric Porter, the Today show’s medical reporter, and his wife, Amanda, are big fans of the hotel.

Amanda says the owners, Andrew and Pip Goldsmith, have done a remarkable job transforming the pub after plenty of community consultation.

“They are so busy yet the staff [are] always smiling,” she says. “It’s an exemplary pub, especially if it maintains the grace and style with which it’s running at the moment.”

Summer hotspot

Private boats and Sydney day trippers are joined by those ferrying from Palm Beach to enjoy this Central Coast gem.

The Porters discovered Patonga on a camping trip with friends nearly 30 years ago and bought their first holiday home in the village not long after. Being in commutable distance of the Royal North Shore Hospital was a key factor. “It’s important if Ric has a baby to deliver!” she says.

Amanda credits the Progress Association with retaining Patonga’s “delightful, rural” vibe by resisting a government push to monetise crown land with a new caravan and camping park.

Instead, the local fishing industry continues to operate, trawling for fish, prawns and oysters, and the council-run community camping ground remains a favourite with holiday makers.

Village charm

“From humble beginnings as a fishing village during the 1920s and 1930s, Patonga has risen
to occupy one of the best-known destinations outside the Sydney metropolitan area,” says agent Stuart Gan of Central Coast Realty.

Gan believes the introduction of the ferry service from Palm Beach was a major turning point in the popularity of the village, along with the rise in property values in neighbouring Pearl Beach.

With just 270 properties in Patonga, there’s only ever a small handful on the market, making buying a little more challenging as ex-pats, finance professionals, sea-changers and retirees vie for limited stock.

“The beautiful waterway retains a lot of old-world charm and offers both a pristine estuary environment and unspoilt beach frontage, which is quite unique on the Central Coast.”

Top home in the area

Laying claim to one of the largest level blocks in Patonga, this renovated beach house is wrapped in easy-care gardens.

A servery window opens from the modern kitchen onto the back deck and covered dining area.

There are two bedrooms in the main residence plus a separate bunk house.

Central Coast Realty are seeking offers between $1.2 million and $1.3 million.