Great Western Hotel in Melbourne CBD saved from demolition by developers

THE Great Western Hotel in Melbourne CBD has been saved from the wrecking ball, with developers unveiling a new plan to keep the shell of the 153-year-old building.

THE facade of the Great Western Hotel in the Melbourne CBD is set to be saved from demolition under a new plan to keep the shell of the 1864 building.

Developers will keep the outer walls of the building for their 26-storey, $14.8 million project, averting fears the original hotel on King St would be ripped down.

The plans first submitted to the council proposed removing the old building but after talks with Town Hall officers, developer Jin Yi Pty Ltd has lodged a revised offer. Some internal features may also be retained, depending on the ground-floor use.

An artist’s impression of the proposed 26-storey, $14.8 million tower for the Great Western Hotel on King St in Melbourne CBD.

The hotel is more than 150 years old.

The current two-storey brick building at the corner of King and Lt Bourke Sts is classified as a “C graded historic hotel” in the city’s heritage review of 1993.

The bottom three floors of the new development will be for shops, dining and offices. A total of 64 apartments will occupy the remaining levels. Of those, 46 will be two-bedroom homes, the rest one-bedroom units.
The 80m-high tower, designed by architects DKO, will have floor space of almost 6700 sqm, while just four spaces for cars and 18 for bicycles are provided.

The pub was originally called the Star of the West.

A total of 61 objections were lodged over the original plan, mostly over the loss of a heritage value.

The Great Western Hotel pictured in 1972. Picture: KJ Halla

Fears were held that the Great Western would be lost to the city streetscape after the Corkman Hotel in Carlton was demolished illegally last year.

City of Melbourne planning chairman Nick Reece said the revised application was a big win for the city.

“Given the building did not have heritage protection we have been able to negotiate a terrific outcome that will preserve the building facade, some ground-level heritage features and a street-facing commercial operation,’’ Cr Reece said.

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“It’s a win-win result. The developer gets a building with distinctive heritage character and future generations of Melburnians can hopefully still enjoy a pot and a good meal on the site the Great Western Hotel.”

Melbourne Heritage Action president Tristan Davies said the plan was not the best outcome because only the shell of the building would be retained.

“But it’s good that the council at least is negotiating with the developers to protect something and deliver a compromise,’’ Mr Davies said.

Councillors will vote on the application on Tuesday.

@IanRoyall