‘Trashing local heritage laws’: Lilydale White Dog Hotel left to rot
Despite local heritage protections, a 163-year-old Yarra Ranges hotel has been left to rot with locals fearing the cracked facade could endanger the public if it crumbles.
Outer East
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Despite local heritage protections, a 163-year-old Yarra Ranges hotel has been left to rot with locals fearing the cracked facade could endanger the public if it crumbles.
The White Dog Hotel, also known as Duke’s Saloon, was built in 1862 on Main St, Lilydale and became a beloved waterhole for locals and travellers.
The hotel closed in 2002.
Since then, cracks have formed in the heritage-protected facade, there are multiple smashed windows and the hotel has repeatedly been ransacked, damaged and graffitied.
Yarra Ranges local Robert Hall — who has been campaigning to save the hotel for more than a decade — called for the Yarra Ranges Council to do more to save the White Dog Hotel at a council meeting on Tuesday night.
“Would any other building on the main street be able to fall into such a state of disrepair without anything being done?” he said.
Mr Hall, who runs the Friends of the White Dog Facebook page, said the pub owner should be held responsible for the state of the beloved hotel.
“It is just trashing local heritage laws,” he said.
“The heritage overlay protection is not worth the paper it is printed on.
“We are lucky it is still standing.”
Mr Hall also raised concerns about the state of disrepair of the heritage-listed facade which could pose a safety risk to pedestrians in Lilydale.
During the meeting, council officers assured locals they were “actively trying to engage with the owner” and they were monitoring the site for potential safety concerns.
Councillor Tim Heenan said he was “very disappointed” with the state of the White Dog Hotel.
“I believe our patience is running really thin now because of the state of the front facade,” he said.
“Yarra Ranges might have to take responsibility for the health and safety of the public walking past it.
“It breaks my heart it is not sitting there in its former glory or at least in some part looked after.”
Ron Ward, who has owned the hotel since 2000, did not attend the meeting.