NSW Government launches legal action to protect beloved Blue Mountains landmark icon Paragon Cafe
Media Release /Tuesday 30 June 2026
The NSW Government has launched legal action to force urgent repairs to the deteriorating heritage-listed former Paragon Café in Katoomba.
Civil enforcement proceedings have been filed in the Land and Environment Court of NSW. It is alleged the owner has failed to maintain the minimum standards and repairs required under the Heritage Act 1977.
It’s only the second case of its kind to be taken to court in NSW.
The Paragon opened in the Blue Mountains in 1916, established by Zacharias Theodore ‘Jack’ Simos. It is celebrated for its ornate decor, art deco architecture and story of Greek migrant success.
For generations, the café had been a beloved institution, attracting visitors who came to experience a taste of Greek cafe culture, indulging in handmade ice creams, sundaes, sweets, chocolates, confectionary, cakes and pastries.
But the Paragon has sat empty since 2018.
Legal action by the Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator follows interventions by Heritage NSW to improve the property’s condition, including two formal Orders under the Heritage Act 1977 directing urgent repairs and maintenance.
Minister for Heritage, Penny Sharpe said:
“The Paragon is an irreplaceable treasure of our heritage, reflecting more than a century of migration, entrepreneurship and community in the Blue Mountains.
“Places like the Paragon carry our history and must be protected because once lost, they cannot be replaced. That is why we are taking decisive legal action.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Heritage and Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle said:
“The Paragon is woven into the identity of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains. It’s deeply disappointing to see such an important heritage building deteriorate due to a lack of maintenance.
“The NSW Government has worked hard to support a positive outcome here, but enough is enough.
“My thanks to the Friends of the Paragon and the Blue Mountains Branch of the National Trust for their persistent advocacy on behalf of the much-loved Paragon.”
Biodiversity and Heritage Regulator, Chief Regulatory Officer, Adam Gilligan said:
“We have a responsibility to ensure heritage-listed properties are protected for future generations.
“This action sends a clear message that heritage obligations must be taken seriously, and owners of these properties have a legal responsibility to maintain them.”
