The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) last week approved the demolition of a Williamstown hotel even as the building is being considered for state heritage listing.
The decision reversed Hobsons Bay council’s refusal to allow the demolition of the Oriental Hotel.
Evolve Development was given the green light to pull down Williamstown’s second-oldest building and possibly the state’s first three-storey brick hotel (circa 1854) to build a six-storey, 83-dwelling apartment block.
A spokeswoman for the Save Williamstown residents’ group, Charmian Gaud, described the ruling as “devastating”.
“We think the Oriental is actually of national heritage significance,” she said.
“The oldest three-storey Georgian hotel in Tasmania – it’s 1829 – is on the Heritage Tasmania list and it’s also on the national heritage register.
“And then there’s another one, the Orient in Sydney; again, it’s on New South Wales heritage [list] and the national register.”
Evolve managing director Ashley Williams said he was pleased that VCAT recognised the Oriental was beyond repair and also the significance of the site as an area highly suitable for urban renewal.
“The decision also sends a strong signal to Hobsons Bay council that it should start to process future applications in accordance with the planning scheme rather than as an ad hoc response to local political pressures.
“As noted previously, the request for Heritage Victoria to consider the registration of the Oriental for state listing is a last-minute, futile attempt by Save Williamstown to further delay progress on the site.”
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said the decision marked a sad day for Williamstown, but the developers needed to satisfy the conditions of the planning permit before commencing any demolition.
Heritage Victoria (HV) spokeswoman Tanya Wolkenberg said HV and the Heritage Council of Victoria had both received an application for an interim protection order (IPO) for the hotel to stop demolition.
“Both Heritage Victoria and the Heritage Council have decided not to issue an IPO as the place is not in immediate or imminent threat.
“Under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, demolition cannot proceed without a planning permit.
“A planning permit will not be issued until after Hobsons Bay council’s next meeting in February. The place is being assessed by Heritage Victoria. If it’s deemed to be in imminent threat before the assessment is complete, an IPO may be issued.”
