Sunshine Technical College Buildings Saved

Update: January 2025

The impending demolition of the former Sunshine Technical College, two lovely art deco buildings, has been avoided. In January 2024, Heritage Victoria concluded that the two structures lacked State-level cultural heritage significance and thus should not be listed in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). However, the RHSV, the National Trust, Brimbank Council and the Sunshine Historical Society all voiced their opposition to this decision. Both the Heritage Committee of the RHSV and Brimbank Council made submissions to the Heritage Council of Victoria (HCV), underscoring the buildings’ significant historical and architectural value and staunchly advocating for their preservation. The RHSV along with Sunshine and Districts Historial Society supported Brimbank City Council’s appeal and on 20 January 2025 the HCV found against Heritage Victoria. The HCV recognised that the two former Sunshine Technical College buildings are indeed of State-level cultural heritage significance and should be included in the VHR as a Registered Place.

Robur Tea House: Less of a Landmark

Update: January 2025

The fate of the landmark 135 year-old Robur Tea House appears to have been decided. The Tea House has been subjected to a series of development proposals, all of which have been of concern to the RHSV. In 2017, an application was made to build a 39 storey hotel next to the Tea House. When this was rejected by Heritage Victoria, the developer applied for approval to build a 24 storey tower. This too was rejected. Then came an application for a 25-storey mixed-use development, comprising of a hotel, high-end apartments and office and retail spaces. When this proposal failed, an application was made to construct seven integrated towers and buildings between three and 27 storeys surrounding the Robur Tea House on three sides. As it had with earlier proposals, the RHSV objected, emphasising the building’s seminal historical importance as ‘one of the few remaining traces of the industrial and warehousing establishments that until the 1970s and 1980s dominated the south bank of the Yarra’. Heritage Victoria was also unimpressed by the proposal and rejected it. But the developer persevered, and in June 2024 Heritage Victoria approved ‘Construction of seven integrated towers and buildings ranging in height from 30 levels to 3 levels surrounding the Robur Tea Buildimg on the north, south, and west elevations, and part demolition, adaption and conservation of the Robur Tea Building’. Construction is expected to commence in 2025.

Threats to World Heritage Area: Gertrude Street, Fitzroy – A Worthwhile Improvement

January 2025

Despite being successful in a lengthy approval process, developer Daniel Besen put the site at 1-9 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy up for sale in September 2023. The RHSV Heritage Committee had opposed the Besen development of the site due to its adverse impact on the Royal Exhibition Building (REB) and the Carlton Gardens buffer zone by blocking views of the REB and significantly changing the streetscape. As the site includes the development approval, any new owner may continue with construction of the original unsympathetic building, or seek approval for a different project. The new owner of the site applied to change the permit from a mix of shops, an art gallery and an apartment to 14 apartments. The new application was heard by VCAT and on 9 January 2025 VCAT determined that, before it could be approved, significant changes had to be made to the proposed new building.

Changes required by VCAT include setbacks at the northern and southern boundaries, changes to reduce the building’s impact on views from the REB Dome Promenade, and deletion of the roofed pergola structure above the roof terrace. In short, not perfect from a heritage point of view, but a significant improvement to the latest iteration of the proposed development of 1-9 Gertrude Street.

Buninyong Tourist Accommodation: A Significantly Reduced Impact

January 2025

A project that refuses to go away, the ‘sky barrel’ tourist apartments resurfaced during 2023. After the rejection of an application to build six giant wine barrel-shaped accommodation units on Mount Buninyong, the owner of the site continued to seek approval for various types of tourist accommodation. The latest attempt has been to seek approval for four tourist cabins (converted shipping containers) to be placed on the site on the south side of Mt Buninyong, adjacent to the one half-finished barrel. The RHSV, the Buninyong and District Historical Society and the City of Ballarat have opposed the proposal, and the owner has again gone to VCAT.

A compulsory conference was held on 13 October 2023, when the development company, Lapilli La Mt Buninyong Pty Ltd, submitted revised plans in an attempt to gain approval from the City of Ballarat. The Buninyong and District Historical Society objected to the new plans, which were only a very marginal improvement on the original proposal. The upshot of the hearing was that the applicant was requested to submit an updated Cultural Heritage Management Plan. The matter went to VCAT on 18-21 November 2024.

On 17 January 2025 VCAT, subject to a number of conditions, approved the construction of eight single bedroom accommodation units on the lower edge of the property, significantly reducing the visual impact of the proposed design.

Call to action on Activity Centre Zones

November 2024

The proposed changes would place much of Melbourne and many regional centres under the Activity Centre zone, extended by a new ‘Walkable Catchment Zone’, in which six-storey or higher development will be encouraged in every way possible way and in which heritage and neighbourhood character will take the back seat.

In these areas, the ‘Walkable Catchment Zone’ will replace the existing Neighbourhood Residential Zone, which has strict height controls in line with the conservation objectives of the Heritage Overlay and whose stated objectives include heritage and neighbourhood character. These are omitted from the new Zone! That will allow the objectives of the Heritage Overlay to be challenged at every turn in favour of any project that provides more housing. We explain the risks in the article for the December issue of History News (Attachment 1).

Yes, let’s support more housing in places where people want to live. But places will become far less sought after if we forget what makes them desirable in the first place. If we destroy heritage to build housing, Melbourne will become ‘Hong Kong without the view’, a collection of soulless high-rise buildings. Heritage makes Melbourne marvellous and makes our regional towns and cities attractive as tourist beacons and signposts to our history. Heritage enhances a neighbourhood’s soul and character, and provides focal points and historical perspectives. We need housing and heritage, housing that preserves, respects and is integrated with heritage.

Click here for more details, the full transcript of Charles Sowerwine’s letter and a template of a letter you could adapt and send to Minister Kilkenny