Madeleine West hits back after Shannon Bennett says relationship breakdown led to project demise

Actor Madeleine West has posted a famous quote, in what is likely a response to her former partner Shannon Bennett’s reasons for abandoning a major Victorian project.

Shannon Bennett has offloaded the trouble plagued Burnham Beeches redevelopment project.

Actor Madeleine West has channelled Michelle Obama in a cryptic Instagram post, after her former partner Shannon Bennett gave reasons for abandoning a major Victorian project.

West said she kept a magnet on her fridge with the famous words of America’s former first lady, “when they go low, we go high”, to remind herself that “you have to fall a few times, when learning to fly”.

On Friday Bennett said the demise of the couple’s relationship and his role as primary carer for their six children contributed to his decision to walk away from the trouble plagued Burnham Beeches redevelopment in Sherbrooke, in Melbourne’s east.

West and Bennett have moved to the Byron Bay area and West has repartnered and has announced she will stand for election as an independent at the next NSW state election.

Confirming that he was walking away from the project, Bennett said it was now “superfluous” given his parenting commitments.

West posted the Obama quote on her Instagram stories just after 9am Saturday in what looks like a thinly veiled response to Bennett’s extraordinary comments.

Shannon Bennett at Burnham Beeches estate that he wanted to turn into a posh hotel. Picture: David Smith

Bennett and investor Adam Garrison bought the heritage listed art deco treasure in 2010 with grand plans for a luxury food, brewery, arts and culture destination with accommodation offering at Sherbrooke in the Yarra Ranges.

The heritage-listed estate has been snapped up for $16.6m by the consortium behind the $120m The Continental hotel redevelopment in Sorrento.

Bennett became increasingly frustrated by planning roadblocks for the prized location, 40km east of Melbourne.

But the breakdown of his relationship with the actor and podcaster Madeleine West appeared to have forced his hand.

“Since relocating to Byron Bay with his six children after the breakdown of his relationship with their mother, his sole focus is the care and upbringing of his children,” a statement from Bennett’s management said.

“Burnham Beeches became superfluous to this focus.”

The once “it’ couple had their first child in 2005, rounding off the family in 2014 with twins.

They did not marry, split in 2018 and West has spoken candidly about the break up on her podcast.

West, who has been volunteering in the Lismore flood clean up, announced she would run as an independent in the next NSW state election.

Bennett, renowned for his Vue de monde city restaurant and offshoots, has divested himself of his hospitality businesses over recent years.”

“Shannon has no current hospitality projects on the horizon. He wishes the new owners all the success,” a spokesperson said.

Despite the setbacks, The Piggery Café opened using an existing permit, but the project hit a snag through a combination of planning, resistance from location and heritage projection requirements.

Heritage Victoria executive director Steven Avery, who hit back at Bennett’s complaints about complying with heritage protection in 2020, told the Herald Sun he was keen to see conservation works progressed as a priority.

“Heritage Victoria has been advised that the property has now been sold and we are working with the purchaser to ensure conservation works are progressed as a priority,” he said.

The Continental consortium is made up The Victor Smorgon Group, the Kanat Group and Trenerry Property Group.

The historic art deco mansion Burnham Beeches.

Heritage Victoria slapped a repair order on Burnham Beeches in April, last year, after concerns it was in a poor state of repair and that its conservation was threatened.

It is understood what while works progressed they have been impacted by the pandemic and the order had not been fully complied with at this stage.

In 2020 Bennett complained that Heritage Victoria wanted them to spend $250,000 before any works were undertaken in what was shaping up as a money pit.

But Mr Avery said at the time that basic maintenance such as cleaning gutters and urgent repairs were not being undertaken.

“Owners of state listed heritage places such as Burnham Beeches have obligations under the Heritage Act 2017 to ensure that they are maintained and do not fall into disrepair,” he said.

Burnham Beeches was designed by Harry Norris and built in the early 1930s for Alfred Nicholas, founder of aspirin manufacturer Aspro. It is included in the Victorian Heritage Register under the provisions of the Heritage Act 2017.

Shannon Bennett and Adam Garrison once had grand plans for Burnham Beeches.

Heritage Victoria slapped a repair order on the dilapidated mansion last April. Picture: David Smith