A developer has welcomed Heritage Victoria’s recommendation not to include the former Oriental Hotel on the state heritage register.
Evolve Development plans to demolish 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.
Managing director Ashley Williams said that Heritage Victoria had made “the correct decision”.
“[It] is supported by years of reports and planning hearings that have all indicated the building has been in very poor condition for many years and is not worthy of retention,” he said.
“We hope that both the Hobsons Bay City Council and the various objector groups will now recognise the need for the project to move forward and will work with us to bring some long-overdue urban renewal to the precinct.”
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Heritage Victoria found that the hotel, “while unusual for being a hotel of three storeys in Williamstown, is an undistinguished building”.
“It demonstrates the principal characteristics of a gold rush-era corner hotel. However, many of this type were constructed in Victoria in the 1850s and early 1860s.”
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said the decision marked “a sad day for Williamstown”, but Evolve would need to satisfy the conditions of a planning permit before any demolition could start. She said the council would make a submission to the Heritage Council requesting that it ignore Heritage Victoria’s recommendation.
“The council has done everything it can to save the Oriental,” Cr Wilson said.
“All our legal avenues are nearly exhausted, but the council will continue to argue the case for the protection of the Oriental via its submission to the Heritage Council.
“Heritage Victoria notes that at least five hotels constructed in Williamstown [from 1857-63] still exist and the council will ask that it expedites the assessment process to see these buildings included on Victorian Heritage Register.”
The buildings the council wants to protect are the Prince of Wales, Napier Hotel, Alfred Hotel, Telegraph Hotel and Steam Packet Hotel.
Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase said the residents’ lobby group would encourage people to make submissions to the Heritage Council calling for the preservation of the Oriental.
