Eight-storey hotel to tower above historic Central Club Hotel pub
An eight-storey hotel will be built above a historic pub in Melbourne — but parts of the heritage pub will need to be demolished to make way for it.
Victoria
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An Art Deco heritage pub will be brought back to its former glory and an eight storey residential hotel overlooking Queen Victoria Market built above it.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation has been given the green light for partial demolition, alterations and construction of a multi-level extension to the historic Central Club Hotel.
The $8 million makeover will see the two-storey Victoria St building in a heritage precinct turned into a 27m tall hotel with 33 rooms, a rooftop terrace and garden.
Objectors said the development had excessive height, would overshadow Queen Victoria Market on the winter solstice and block views of neighbouring apartments.
But the City of Melbourne has posted a decision to grant a permit, subject to the conditions, to partially demolish the existing building, retain the street facing heritage facade and keep the pub on the ground floor.
“The existing Central Club Hotel building will be restored and refurbished to highlight and celebrate its heritage features,’’ a council report said.
“The use of heritage paint colours and replacement of like for like window and door furnishings will create an attractive and appropriate street frontage along Victoria and O’Connell Streets.’’
One bedroom studio apartments will be built on levels two to seven for short term accommodation for rural and regional nurses visiting the city for workshops, seminars and conferences.
The existing roof, most internal structures, the northern facade and minor elements of other facades at ground level of the “C” graded heritage building will be demolished.
The pub sits in a heritage overlay with strict rules governing its renovation or demolition.
But the report said “Victoria Street is envisaged to become a premier street for active and public transport users, with a denser built from that promotes activity within a renewed urban area.
“The retention of the heritage building and the creation of a highly considered upper level facade creates a positive architectural addition to the changing public realm.”
The nursing federation bought the hotel for $7.9 million — $2.5 million above reserve — in 2017.
The eight storey Melbourne headquarters of the group opened across the road from the pub at 535 Elizabeth St the same year.
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