By Rachel Eddie and Lachlan Abbott
The Royal Exhibition Building will be protected by new planning rules that stop developments encroaching on views of the World Heritage-listed site and the sunshine on the Carlton Gardens.
There were concerns a buffer zone around the site was not enforced with enough certainty to prevent neighbouring developments – including a proposed five-storey building along Gertrude Street and a glass tower at St Vincent’s Hospital – diminishing the value of the listing by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2004.
The Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens have World Heritage status, which includes a buffer zone around the site.Credit: Penny Stephens
After years of review, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny last week approved new planning controls for the buffer zone, within both Melbourne City and Yarra City councils, to protect views of the dome and the gardens from overshadowing.
For the majority of the streets, development will be limited to about four storeys or between nine and 11 metres tall.
But development on the southern edge of Carlton Gardens, at the border of the CBD, will be allowed to go taller because they would not overshadow the gardens and would maintain existing heights.
Small pockets of Rathdowne Street could also go up to 16 metres with setbacks, though the majority would be restricted to two to three storeys, or 10 metres tall, with slithers of only one to two storeys.
The majority of sites would have mandatory maximum height limits, though some would have preferred maximum heights.
Developments at the St Vincent’s Hospital would also be constrained to building no taller than it already is, and would need to use “muted materials and colours which complement the local area and discourage use of reflective materials”.
The hospital is already rebuilding the 11-storey Aikenhead centre on the corner of Victoria Parade and Nicholson Street, replacing it with a slightly taller glass tower. The cladding was criticised for being unnecessarily dominant and distracting, but the new planning rules do not interfere with previously approved projects.
There were no changes for the block between La Trobe and Little Lonsdale Streets within the CBD-end of the buffer zone, called the World Heritage environs area.
The Sapphire in the Gardens apartment and Shangri-La hotel towers on La Trobe Street were recently constructed with views overlooking the Royal Exhibition Building’s dome, having been approved for development while the rules controlling the buffer zone were under review.
Each plot in the block between Russell and La Trobe streets will have individual height limits on a site by site basis. Developments there would need to use muted materials and colours, and be setback to protect views of the Royal Exhibition Building and its dome.
Kilkenny said the new controls provided certainty to councils, developers and the community about where more homes could be built.
“We can deliver the homes Victoria needs while protecting what makes Melbourne great,” Kilkenny said.
“The Royal Exhibition Building was the first building in the country to be UNESCO World Heritage and for good reason, that’s why we’re making sure we protect this iconic site for generations to come.”
Friends of the Royal Exhibition Building co-ordinator Margaret O’Brien said the new controls addressed the need for certainty.
However, she wanted Heritage Victoria’s executive director to have powers giving them the final say on proposed developments.
Margaret O’Brien outside the Royal Exhibition Building.Credit: Luis Ascui
“This would provide independence in decisions on developments and actions that might impact the world heritage values,” she said.
Instead, Heritage Victoria’s director will be able to issue non-binding recommendations for certain applications.
“It leaves the door open for uncertainty in decision-making and for developers to contest and litigate,” O’Brien said.
Stan Capp, president of the CBD residents group Eastenders, welcomed the minister’s decision after the group previously raised concerns about development in the area.
Stan Capp with Eastenders committee member Pam Lyons in Carlton Gardens with the Shangri-La Hotel looming in the background.Credit: Chris Hopkins
“It’s been pending for some time, so it’s a great relief to have some approvals of these limits,” he said.
“The pity is, of course, the horse bolted in some respects.”
Royal Historical Society of Victoria chair Charles Sowerwine was also glad a plan had finally been approved.
“There’s been some weakening here and there of the original [height limit] proposals. But we’re relatively happy with what we’ve got,” he said.
The Royal Exhibition Building was built for the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition and was the site of Australia’s first parliament in 1901.
It served as a hospital during the 1919 Spanish influenza pandemic, a venue for the 1956 Olympic Games, as a vaccination hub during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a venue for many events and celebrations.
However, The Age has previously reported the building is crumbling and tens of millions of dollars short of the money required for restoration and repair.
The exterior of the 143-year-old building is rapidly deteriorating, urns decorating the parapet are missing and paint is peeling off murals inside.
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