Quiet Man pub to make way for Melbourne apartment development

ANOTHER inner-city Irish pub looks set to pour its last drinks and make way for a proposed $12 million apartment development.

ANOTHER inner-city Irish pub looks set to pour its last drinks and make way for a proposed $12 million apartment development.

The Quiet Man on Racecourse Rd, Kensington, will be demolished and replaced by a nine-storey residential block under plans with Melbourne City Council.

The pub is a popular haunt for Flemington racegoers and Irish expats.

The closure will come after Bridie O’Reilly’s in Brunswick shuts its doors on April 2 to make way for a mixed-use proposal which will add five storeys to the existing building.

Manager James Gallagher with staff Thomas Moore and John Boyce. Picture: Rebecca Michael

But Quiet Man owners and staff hope St Patrick’s Day next month won’t be their last. Although the building has been sold, the pub lease has 12 to 18 months to run, depending on the progress of the redevelopment plans.

City planning officers are assessing the proposal from Monolith International for the 46-apartment development which includes three levels of basement parking and two shops on the ground floor.

The plans also feature spaces for 48 bicycles and 48 cars. Visitor and extra cars will have to park in crowded side streets under the proposal.

A total of 22 objections have been lodged, with most people concerned about over-development and inappropriate use of the landmark site.

Urbis, which prepared the application, said the development was of high architectural quality that was “respectful of its adjoining residential interface”.

The Palace Hotel was first constructed on the site in the 1880s, then was remodelled in the 1920s and 1930s, and again when it became the Quiet Man about 20 years ago.

The Quiet Man’s bar was designed and built in Dublin and then reassembled in Kensington in 1997.

The pub and restaurant has become a community meeting point for the Flemington and Kensington neighbourhoods as well as a meeting point for local and travelling Irish.

The pub hosts weekly Irish dancing classes, a singing club as well as live music in the front bar.

Pub manager James Gallagher said it would be sad to see the much-loved tavern go.

“It’s taken a massive toll on our customer base because the pub is a social hub for so many people,’’ Mr Gallagher said.

He said the apartment block plans were not in keeping with the area. Monolith could not be contacted for comment.

@IanRoyall

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