Banyule Homestead wedding venue plan knocked back by Banyule Council

A PLAN to turn Heidelberg’s most historic building into a wedding and function venue has been dumped by the council — but the controversy is not over.

A proposal to turn the homestead into a wedding venue has been knocked back, but the matter could head to VCAT. Picture: Supplied

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to turn Heidelberg’s most historic building into a wedding and function venue has been unceremoniously dumped by Banyule Council.

But it could be a case of brides headquarters revisited if the owners of Banyule Homestead on Buckingham Drive decide to head to VCAT.

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

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Councillors last week unanimously voted against the proposal to turn the heritage-listed property into a boutique venue called The Voeux to host weddings and other formal events.

A Toorak family, who bought the property for $5.2 million in 2015, applied for a permit to host up to 160 people, obtain a liquor license, build 48 car parks, convert an existing garage into a kitchen and provide acoustic fencing.

It would operate between 9am and 10.30pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 11pm on weekends.

Banyule Homestead is a heritage-listed property.

The proposal infuriated residents, particularly after the new owners illegally chopped three protected trees. They copped a $1,516 fine and an official warning from council.

Ed Kolodziejczyk has lived next door for 17 years and said it would have a “profound impact” on his family, including his young daughter, who has severe cerebral palsy.

He said his daughter would be forced to look at a three-metre acoustic wall just one metre away from the window.

“She should not lose her access to see sunlight and be made to look at a high wall,” Mr Kolodziejczyk said during last week’s council meeting.

David Woods OAM, who lives just metres from the property, said it would have a significant negative effect on the safety and amenity of the area.

“It’s only contribution will be noise, traffic, increased demand on street parking and adverse effect on the heritage character and environment,” Mr Woods said.

The owners of the homestead want to turn it into a wedding venue.

Banyule Homestead venue manager Claudia Lee told Leader they’re weighing up their options and could head to VCAT.

Mayor Tom Melican said the owners were custodians of a home with substantial historical significance and shouldn’t see it as an economic opportunity to make money.

The 9085sq m estate is one of the few remaining pre-gold-rush mansions in Melbourne designed by architect John Gill and commissioned by English-born pioneer Joseph Hawdon in 1846.

Features include a 600-bottle wine cellar, an established olive grove and fruit orchard, a synthetic grass tennis court, pool, alfresco terraces with riverside views, formal lounge, dining and sitting rooms with six large open fireplaces in the historic end of the building.