WILLIAMSTOWN residents have claimed a small win in the battle to save Victoria’s oldest three-storey brick hotel.
Residents and Hobsons Bay council are fighting a developer who wants to demolish the Oriental Hotel, on the corner of Nelson Place and Anne Street, and build a six-storey, 83-dwelling apartment block.
Following a 10-day major case hearing, the developer conceded the building dates back to 1854.
Evolve Development had previously claimed the pub dated back to 1871. But the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal last Friday heard that surveyor measurements in 1854 were taken in links, not feet, supporting the case of the council and residents.
In April, Evolve fenced off the hotel and said it posed a risk to the public.
The hearing, which combines six separate applications, ran over time and was adjourned to October. Evolve’s development of the entire Port Phillip Woollen Mill site could add 2000 people to Williamstown’s population. Nearly 3000 people opposed to the mill development have signed a “pledge to defend Williamstown”, which has been presented to Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
Evolve’s application to build a 137-dwelling tower on the mill site will be heard at VCAT in September.
