Burnham Beeches redevelopment: $120m luxury hotel, wellness centre, heritage protection works underway

A $120m redevelopment of a historic Dandenong Ranges estate — formerly owned by a celebrity chef —is set to start, turning it into a major tourist drawcard.

Restoration works on the historic Burnham Beeches mansion in Sherbrooke have begun. Picture: Martin Reddy.

A highly anticipated $120m revamp of a historic Yarra Ranges mansion, previously owned by celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, is set to start.

The Trenerry Consortium, which bought Burnham Beeches in Sherbrooke site for $16.6m from Bennett in 2022, has finalised its plan for the historic estate, which includes a luxury hotel, restaurant, pool house, wellness centre and glamping sites.

The restoration of the art deco mansion, which has sat vacant for more than 35 years, are the first construction works to take place on the estate.

Restoration works have begun on the 1930s art deco mansion. Picture: Supplied

The heritage protection works — including repairing the foundation for internal refurbishments and protecting the mansion for the winter season — were a priority for the consortium after Heritage Victoria raised concerns over the urgent maintenance required to stop the 1930s treasure from falling into further disrepair.

The mansion fell into disrepair after it sat vacant for more than 35 years. Picture: Supplied

The works will help protect the mansion during the winter. Picture: Supplied.

A Trenerry Consortium spokeswoman said Hamilton Marino Builders would be appointed the principal contractors for the redevelopment and a tender campaign for subcontractors for the first stage of the build would commence shortly.

Six Senses, “the hospitality industry’s pioneer of sustainable practices”, was previously appointed to operate the hotel at Burnham Beeches, along with proposed glamping tents, marking the brand’s first foray into the Australian market.

Stage one of the redevelopment is scheduled to begin later this year.

A render of the proposed Burnham Beeches redevelopment.

A render of the proposed Burnham Beeches redevelopment.

The sprawling Burnham Beeches property was the former home of Alfred Nicholas, who co-launched pain relief product Aspro in 1917.

The art deco home on the site is known as the Norris building, named after architect Harris Norris.

Nicholas used Burnham Beeches as his rural retreat from 1933 and died at the property in 1937.