Renovate or detonate? That’s the question hanging over Williamstown’s former Oriental Hotel on the Port Phillip Woollen Mill development site.
Heritage Victoria is investigating whether the hotel should be included on the state’s heritage register, while at the same time Victoria’s planning tribunal is deciding whether it should be demolished.
In February, Hobsons Bay council refused the demolition of the 1854 hotel, which is Williamstown’s second-oldest building and possibly the state’s first three-storey brick hotel.
Evolve Development is appealing the decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal so that it can build a six-storey, 83-dwelling apartment block as part of a larger development that could house 2000 people.
Heritage Victoria executive director Tim Smith said an officer would inspect the hotel and then he would make a recommendation on whether to include the place on the register.
Mr Smith’s recommendation will be put on public notice and the community will have 60 days to make a submission.
VCAT was expected to hand down its decision as early as next month.
Evolve director Ashley Williams accused residents lobbying to save the hotel of delay tactics. He said people were being misled to think the hotel could be saved. “The reality is that the fabric of the building doesn’t even warrant a Hobsons Bay listing, let alone a state listing.
“This is a last-minute effort by the objectors to further delay the redevelopment of the site.”
Save Williamstown spokeswoman Charmian Gaud said the building was a rare example of a Victorian colonial Georgian hotel that had led to Heritage Victoria accepting a nomination for state heritage listing.
