Greyhound Hotel faces demolition as Planning Minister Richard Wynne refuses interim heritage controls

AN iconic St Kilda gay bar facing demolition has been refused interim heritage protection by the Planning Minister, who has accused Port Phillip Council of “shirking” its responsibilities.

Revellers were shocked when Melbourne’s biggest gay bar closed suddenly last month.

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PLANNING Minister Richard Wynne has accused Port Phillip Council of “shirking” its responsibility to protect its history as St Kilda’s Greyhound Hotel faces demolition.

But Port Phillip mayor Bernadene Voss hit back, saying “the council is very committed to the protection of heritage places” and was doing its best to save the 163-year-old pub.

The council is conducting a heritage assessment of the building, which closed on January 5, and asked the Minister for interim heritage controls until the report comes back next month.

But Mr Wynne rejected the bid for the protections, saying the heritage value of the hotel “cannot be established” without the assessment.

“This is yet another example of the Port Phillip Council shirking its heritage and planning responsibilities,” Mr Wynne said. “The council had every opportunity to assess the site for its heritage significance (before granting a demolition permit).”

Cr Voss said the council had no choice but consent to the demolition under the Building Act as there were no heritage controls in place.

“We acknowledge this was a gap and since that time we have worked quickly to prepare the required heritage assessments,” she said.

The council recently rejected plans for an eight-storey apartment complex on the site. Picture: Supplied

It is not the first time the council has been unsuccessful in obtaining interim heritage controls on a historical pub in the area.

Mr Wynne also rejected the council’s application to give Port Melbourne’s London Hotel heritage status in September last year.

Port Melbourne’s London Hotel faces demolition as Richard Wynne refuses to grant heritage status

Cr Voss said Mr Wynne’s refusals were disappointing and had left both hotels at “immediate risk of demolition”.

Cr Voss said the Port Phillip community had made it clear they were concerned about the potential demolition and wanted both historical buildings preserved.

Port Melbourne’s London Hotel is also facing the wrecker’s ball. Picture: Nicole Cleary

“We have completed a Cultural Heritage Assessment of the London Hotel and we are continuing with our comprehensive heritage assessment of the Greyhound Hotel,” she said.

“Council would like to see the current building fabric remain unaltered for both buildings while our current assessment and potential future planning process unfolds.”

Port Phillip Council rejected an application for an eight-storey apartment block on the site of the Greyhound Hotel last month after it received 45 objections and a petition of more than 2100 signatures against the development.