Banyule Homestead owners are taking Banyule Council to VCAT

BANYULE Homestead owners are determined to turn the heritage-listed home into a late-night wedding venue and are taking Banyule Council the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Historic Banyule Homestead - 60-74 Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg.

BANYULE Homestead owners are still determined to turn the heritage-listed home into a late-night wedding venue and are taking Banyule Council to VCAT.

Furious Heidelberg residents - who are hearing alarms bells instead of wedding bells - are preparing for battle against the proposed changes, which could see the historic property host up to 160 people until 10.30pm every day of the week.

Acoustic fencing and 48 car parks are also in the owner’s controversial application.

The council’s city development director Scott Walker said they were liaising with the Banyule Estates Residents Group, which was formed to fight against the function centre.

Group member David Richards is urging concerned residents to attend a community meeting about the Buckingham Drive property on Thursday.

“We’re looking for more support and we want to keep people up to date on our fight,” he said.

Banyule Homestead wedding venue plan knocked back by Banyule Council

The group, which has more than 150 followers, is hoping to fund assessments by acoustic and traffic management experts to help the council’s case.

“We know the intensity of the venue in this quiet residential pocket will mean it is very obstructive,” Mr Richards said.

In July 2017, councillors unanimously voted against the private residence becoming an events venue.

The application was refused on the grounds that the carpark and building works would erode the amenities of the neighbourhood and would cause traffic and noise issues on the suburban street.

Heidelberg’s Banyule Homestead could become Melbourne wedding venue, The Voeux

The council is now preparing to oppose it again at an eight day VCAT hearing in June.

“Council has not since formed any other view or position on the matter,” Mr Walker said.

Mr Richards said he was confident the council would be successful in its bid to stop the building.

The homestead is owned by a Toorak family, who do not live at the $5.2 million property.

A fine was issued to the family after three protected trees were illegally chopped down on the 9085q m estate last year.

It is one of the few pre-gold-rush mansions which remain in Melbourne and has been a private property for the past 30 years.

The owners hope to name the proposed boutique venue The Vouex.

Banyule Homestead’s venue manager Claudia Lee told the Leader they had no comment to make at this time.