The new bar, contained in one at Wooli

By MARGARET DEKKER

It’s taking Lego to a whole new level – or levels! – in sleepy Wooli near Grafton with a new bar and café built solely from shipping containers proving quite the talking point in town as it takes shape on the main road in.

Situated at 353 North Street – tightly, between the Wooli Pub and service station – the ‘383 Container Bar’ is the latest offering from the Solitary Island Marine Park Resort and touted as ‘the ultimate gathering space .. a bar, a café, a backyard party .. where kids can be kids.’

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Kids of any age, it seems!

The 2-storey structure built from an array of 20-ft shipping containers grouped on top and around each other, is still in construction stage with the containers only arriving before Christmas.

Once completed, the contemporary fit-out will include a restaurant, café, bar, and children’s covered playground in a series of spaces designed by Gavin Welsh of GW Drafting, Coffs Harbour.

The initial idea was for the facility to house an indoor playground only, but the design brief soon expanded to include ‘entertainment’ facilities for the grown-ups as well, inspired by similar designs seen in Victoria and abroad.

“Designed for parents to kick back enjoy a brew and tasty treat while the kids play all day in the GIANT indoor playground!” Solitary Island Marine Resort proudly states online.

Up until now, the bar and café complex was ‘top secret’ (according to the Resort’s website) but with the containers slowly moving into place over summer, the facility is now starting to take ship-shape, not without some concerns from locals about its parking provisions and it being ‘a bit of an eyesore.’

The manager of Solitary Island Marine Park Resort was contacted for comment.