Richmond pub set to close as apartment complex plans submitted to Yarra Council

ANOTHER inner-city live music venue looks set to close with developers wanting to build seven-storey apartments adjoining a 19th century Richmond pub.

LAST drinks look set to be called at another inner-city Melbourne pub.

Live music venue the Central Club Hotel in Richmond is to be taken over by developers who want to build a seven-storey building adjoining the 19th century pub on Swan St.

Plans have been submitted to Yarra City Council for the upper floors of the hotel to be converted to apartments. The shell of the brick and masonry pub is expected to remain.

QUIET MAN PUB TO MAKE WAY FOR APARTMENTS

GREAT WESTERN HOTEL FACADE SAVED

BRUNSWICK $250M APARTMENT PLAN REJECTED

The new complex would house 59 serviced apartments, as well as a gym and rooftop bar. A restaurant or cafe and two shops are proposed for the ground floor.

Punthill Apartments are expected to manage the complex.

View of Central Club Hotel, from Swan St, Richmond.

The pub has been a popular live music venue, hosting gigs by Men At Work, INXS and BB King. More recently it has been home to metal, rock and cover bands.

Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly said state protections had to be put in place to preserve Melbourne’s status as the live music capital.

“If left to the developers they will build apartments on top of everything,” Cr Jolly said.

“We have to actively protect these venues and not let developers have their way.

“Melbourne has enough investor apartments while young people struggle to pay the rent.’’

Music Victoria acting chief executive Nick Cooper said live music venues in Victoria were the lifeblood of the music industry,

“The closure of any venue or band room as a result of apartment development would be a huge loss, in particular a small inner-suburban venue that has hosted live music over a number of years,’’ Mr Cooper said.

“We urge the owners to carefully consider the value of live music to the local community and economy.’’

The application from Contour town planners said the site represented an opportunity for redevelopment.

“The applicable Heritage Overlay and the need to incorporate the existing heritage building into the overall design to ensure that its appearance and significance is not adversely impacted,’’ a Contour report said.

Detail from the facade of the Central Club Hotel, corner of Swan and Coppin streets, Richmond.

The $6 million development is being driven by a company called Mangomero which is owned by the Carayiannis Family Trust.

The likely loss is the latest in a string of pub closures including the London in Port Melbourne, the Greyhound in St Kilda and the Mercat Cross near the Queen Victoria Market.

Line drawing of proposed development at Central Club Hotel, Swan St, Richmond. Pic: David Edelman Architects

The Central Club building was built in 1888 as 44-room hotel.

Initially called the Cremean Family Hotel, it became the Central Club by about 1940, according to Heritage Council Victoria records.

The building is not protected but described as having “local architectural significance’’.

A Yarra council review also identified the pub as a significant heritage place.

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