A Paddington restaurateur faces a potential $6000 fine for his eatery’s bright yellow facade, prompting a local discussion about heritage rules and modern business expression in the community.
Michael Fegent, who owns the building housing his new Venezuelan restaurant, TQM, painted its exterior a vibrant yellow in May. This new look was part of a rebrand from the popular spot Tequila Mockingbird, which Fegent had operated in the same Heeley Street location for nearly a decade.
The bright colour was chosen to reflect the Venezuelan flag and bring warmth to the Five Ways intersection, with Fegent stating he selected a colour listed as heritage by his paint supplier.
Council’s Stance on Heritage Colours
Just two weeks after TQM’s reopening, Woollahra Council ordered Fegent to repaint the Victorian terrace. Council stated that the overall colour of building facades must align with the building’s character and the surrounding streetscape.
Council explained that painting a Victorian terrace bright yellow “isn’t appropriate in this location,” emphasising that operating in a Heritage Conservation Area like Paddington comes with responsibilities to protect the area’s character. Fegent admitted he was unaware prior approval was needed for the paint job, but felt his property was being singled out, questioning if other vibrantly coloured homes in the area had received similar notices.
Community Reacts to the Colour Clash
The dispute quickly caught the attention of the local community. TQM posted on its Instagram, asking locals for their thoughts on the yellow facade. Many responses were positive, with residents expressing that the colour looked “fabulous.” Some commenters drew parallels to other international cities, noting that places like Cape Town, London, and San Francisco have multi-coloured terraces that attract tourists.
Others questioned whether the paint itself was harmful to the Victorian building. There was also speculation that the publicity generated by the Council’s directive might, in some ways, outweigh the cost of the potential fine.
A History of Colour Disputes
Paddington has a long-standing history of challenges regarding heritage restrictions, where Council approval is often required for even minor changes like the colour of a front door. The suburb has seen “colour wars” before; in 2011, John Singleton, then a co-owner of Paddington’s Bellevue Hotel, repeatedly repainted the pub in defiance of Council threats.
Singleton, an advertising and media figure, painted the pub pink, then brown, and later black as a form of protest, arguing he should be able to choose the colour as long as it was temporary and offering the facade for charity advertising. He described Council’s actions as “bureaucracy gone mad.”
Moving Forward
For Michael Fegent, the battle over the yellow facade appears to be concluding without further protest. He has indicated he will not fight Council on the issue and is resigned to the cost of repainting the restaurant’s exterior, which could be up to $6000.
Fegent has already requested a list of approved heritage colours from Woollahra Council. The outcome for TQM, beyond the repainting, remains a topic of local interest.
Published Date 14-Jun-2025
