More than 300 Williamstown residents on Sunday rallied against the possible demolition of the former Oriental Hotel on the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site.
At nearly 10 years, it is believed to be Victoria’s longest-running planning dispute.
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The demolition of Williamstown’s second-oldest building and possibly the state’s first three-storey brick hotel, circa 1854, would pave the way for a six-storey, 83-dwelling apartment block.
Evolve Development plans to transform the mill site – also the site of the former Nugget shoe polish factory – into high-rise, high-density housing for 2000 people.
Evolve managing director Ashley Williams said he was frustrated at being thwarted by residents and Hobsons Bay council as he sought to demolish the hotel.
“People complain about the cost of housing, yet don’t make the connection between the significant planning costs and holding costs for a site like this. By not making tough decisions, council simply passes over its role in determining outcomes to [the] Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal or planning panels.”
Heritage Victoria has recommended that its executive body not list the Oriental on the Victorian Heritage Register, stating that while it was of local heritage significance, there were five similar Williamstown hotels from the gold rush period in better condition.
Organiser of the “Need before Greed” rally, Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase, said the protest aimed to show the Heritage Council the level of community support for the hotel’s preservation, which is also supported by the council. “This is the heritage of Williamstown on the line,” he said.
