Australia’s oldest three-storey pub is to be demolished after a government department declared it held no heritage significance at state level.
The 19th-century Oriental Hotel in Williamstown has been the focus of a community-led campaign for the past 12 months to save it from the wrecking ball.
It followed a decision by the state’s planning tribunal almost 12 months ago to grant a permit for the pre-Victorian building’s demolition, citing its poor condition.
The Heritage Council of Victoria committee found the pub, which was built in the 1850s, did not meet any of the criteria for state significance regarding its historical or architectural features.
“The three-storey building has undergone numerous alterations which changed or removed significant architectural detail,” the committee said in its decision.
The building is registered on Hobsons Bay Heritage Overlay.
Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase said the decision was “tragic” and vowed to pursue any legal avenues left to save the The Oriental.
“For a good period of time in the early days of settlement, it was the tallest building in Melbourne,” he said. “People would come and watch ships coming in from the bay.
“These buildings get knocked down because they can make money. What’s happening is criminal.”
The building is owned by Evolve Development, co-owned by former Fairfax chairman Ron Walker. The company plans to build a six-storey, 83-dwelling apartment complex.
Evolve Development managing director Ashley Williams said the council’s decision was the last hurdle to overcome.
“There’s been a lot of misinformation from the objector group. It’s been an anti-development campaign dressed up as pro-heritage.”
He said demolition would take place “as soon as the last paper work has been completed”.
The pub, most recently operated as The Willy Tavern a decade ago, has had a colourful history during its 150-plus years and has been used as a morgue, hosted boxing matches, been a venue for inquests and in 1867 was visited by the Duke of Edinburgh during the first royal tour of Australia.
The building has been vacant for the last 10 years. It is one of six remaining corner hotels in Williamstown that was built during the gold rush.
Hobsons Bay Council supported the community group’s bid to have the building declared of state significance. Councillor Peter Hemphill said the demolition would be a “sad day” in Williamstown’s history.
“The Oriental is an integral link to our past, having been built during the gold-rush years of Victoria. It’s been a tourist attraction, and a unique and soon-to-be-extinct example of its kind,” he said.
This story first appeared in The Age
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