Police Cottage

Council’s vision is to bring the Police Cottage back to life, through an adaptive reuse of the site into a café and restaurant, with outside seating that offers diners magnificent views of the Nepean River.

The historic building was sensitively refurbished with the restoration of the façade, replacement works to the verandas and roof, services upgrades, internal enhancements and the upgrade of the outdoor privy. An extension of the deck was also proposed to create a 133 sqm outdoor dining area, shaded by a row of mature Jacaranda trees with views of the iconic Yandhai Nepean Crossing and the Nepean River. 

The restoration of the Police Cottage is a key project in the ‘Our River’ Nepean River master plan to create a rejuvenated recreation, dining and entertainment precinct with improved access to the river.

This project will not only attract more visitors to the Nepean River, but also celebrate and conserve this important heritage building for generations to come.

The Police Cottage is located at 4 Punt Road Emu Plains.

The Police Cottage is a local heritage building, as the purpose-built police station and residence for Emu Plains from 1908 to 1921. It was then used as a residence for Penrith Police officers until the 1950s, and then rented as a private home before becoming vacant in 2015. It forms part of the historical development of the locality of Emu Plains and was designed by the Government Architects Branch.

Council is committed to preserving the history of the site for generations to come. A Conservation Management Plan was prepared which will help guide Council in the care and management of the site. A Statement of Heritage Impact was also prepared to guide the development to ensure that the proposed alterations and additions involve relatively minor changes to the existing fabric of the building. Council worked closely with the NSW Police Memorial & Historical Society Inc to share information regarding the history of the site and its association with NSW Police, as well as ensuring any artefacts were preserved.

The Development Application (DA) for the refurbishment of the Police Cottage was approved in June 2021. The Public Exhibition for the DA proposal has now closed. You can view the DA via Council’s online DA tracker by searching for DA 20/0628 here

Council partnered with AMA Projects Pty Ltd to deliver the adaptive reuse of the historic Police Cottage. AMA Projects were chosen following a competitive tender process where they demonstrated expertise in heritage refurbishments.

Construction on the refurbishment of the Police Cottage at Emu Plains has now reached completion, following an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on 18 November 2022.

In June 2021, Council conducted a formal Request for Tender for a hospitality operator for the Police Cottage.

In October 2021, renowned retailer 2773 Café Glenbrook (2773) was announced as the food and beverage operator for the Police Cottage.

Owners of 2773, Shane and Belinda Simpson were chosen as they share Council’s vision for the site and their passion for the local community shone through in their application. They also demonstrated an appreciation for preserving the history of the building as well as having extensive experience running multiple successful venues in the local area.

The menu will be modern Australian with a focus on local and sustainable produce delivering casual dining as well as quick service takeaway. Set to open in late January 2023, Tthe Police Cottage will be the ideal place for family, friends, and visitors to eat, meet and relax while soaking up the magnificent views of the river.

The café and restaurant are anticipated to open in late January 2023.

Council will ensure The Great River Walk and Yandhai Nepean Crossing will remain accessible during the refurbishment of the Police Cottage.

For general information about the project, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.