Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett has fresh hopes for historic Burnham Beeches hotel

CELEBRITY chef Shannon Bennett says he is confident his $40 million development of the historic Burnham Beeches property in the Dandenongs will happen.

Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett at the Burnham Beeches estate. Picture: David Smith

CELEBRITY chef Shannon Bennett is confident his $40 million development of the historic Burnham Beeches property in the Dandenongs will finally happen.

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Bennett and his team had a win last week when the planning decision was sent to an independent state government panel.

“We’ve got some light at the end of the tunnel. It will get up, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” he said.

Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett and his business partner Adam Garrison.

Bennett and business partner Adam Garrison bought the property in 2009, with plans to build a six-star hotel, microbrewery, truffle farm and new restaurant.

They want to restore the 1930s art deco Norris House building on the property in Sherbrooke, which has fallen into disrepair.

And they plan to turn cottages already on the site into guest rooms.

But some locals have complained to Yarra Ranges council about traffic and parking issues.

The budget has blown out to between $35 million and $40 million, but Bennett and Mr Garrison still believe in the project.

Shannon Bennett at Burnham Beeches estate. Picture: David Smith

Shannon Bennett wants to restore this 1930s art deco mansion on the Burnham Beeches property in the Dandenongs. Picture: David Smith

“It’s a love job but we are not going to be foolish about it,” Bennett said.

“We aim to be top-level luxury and to provide an experience. You’ll learn to bake your own bread, make beer out of the rainwater we collect; it will be a complete experience that you can’t get anywhere else in Australia.”

Mr Garrison, who redeveloped Melbourne’s GPO building into a retail space after a fire, said he hoped the planning panel would see the value in the project.

“We’ve got 350,000sqm of land and we only want to put 278sqm of new buildings,” he said.

There were also recent concerns about helicopters landing at the property, when investors were shown the site.

Bennett runs a series of restaurants, including Vue De Monde in the Rialto Tower, Bistro Vue in Little Collins St and his new burger chain, Benny Burger.

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