Shannon Bennett accused of ‘unfulfilled’ Burnham Beeches promises

Parting shots have been fired at celebrity chef Shannon Bennett as new owners take over the $16.6m Dandenong Ranges art deco mansion.

Chef Shannon Bennett has been accused of making ‘unfulfilled promises’ at Burnham Beeches.

Sherbrooke locals have hit out at Shannon Bennett for years of “unfulfilled promises” but have cautiously welcomed the buyers of the art deco Burnham Beeches treasure.

Trenerry Property, which paid $16.6m for the estate, says its priority is to appease Heritage Victoria which has made no secret of its concern that urgent maintenance, saving the 1930s treasure from falling into further disrepair, has not been done.

Trenerry, which includes the Victor Smorgon and Kanat families, is also keen to woo vocal Sherbrooke locals who have been hostile to parts of the project, appointing a “place-making” consultancy to smooth relations.

Burnham Beeches Development Community Watch said it was “extremely pleased to hear Burnham Beeches is in new hands”.

Shannon Bennett recently sold Burnham Beeches for $16.6m.

While the group broadly supported the project it was opposed to what it regarded as intense residential development, tree removal and use of the public owned Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden driveway as access.

“As a community that has sadly become accustomed to feeling jaded and cynical at the seemingly endless claims and unfulfilled promises from the previous property owners, we genuinely hope that Trenerry Property and the Kanat and Smorgon families consult with the local community to develop a plan that respectfully restores this magnificent site to its former glory before it’s too late,” the group said.

The property was sold by Bennett and Adam Garrison with a permit for stage one of the redevelopment, which the consortium intends to proceed with after consultation.

The permit allows for a restaurant, brewery, food store, residential hotel in the mansion, and piggery food and drink premises.

Inside the Burnham Beeches mansion, which required urgent maintenance.

Under Bennett, the Piggery Café traded but appears to have closed during the lockdown.

The chef moved to Byron Bay after the collapse of his relationship with actor Madeleine West, the mother of his six children.

Bennett told the Herald Sun the project became “superfluous” to his role as the carer of his children.

Trenerry director Robert Di Cintio said the opportunity for the group, which is behind Sorrento’s The Continental, to buy Burnham Beeches was too good to pass up.

“We know there’s a really strong community sentiment around Burnham Beeches and we want to work with (Yarra Ranges) council and the community together with Heritage Victoria and Parks Victoria to ensure this is a place to be enjoyed for generations to come,” he said.

Poolman House in South Yarra is set to be transformed into a luxury resort under new plans.

The mansion was also purchased by Trenerry Property.

Poolman House was built in 1865.

“We are both respectful and excited, if not somewhat daunted, by the journey ahead but I believe with the support of Burnham’s passionate stakeholders, together with our proven track record, we can see it operating in some capacity later this year.”

Place-making agency Village Well has been appointed to assist with the project.

“We are pleased to be embarking on this regenerative journey with the local community and to be working on such a significant and unique site which is both locally loved and globally distinctive,” Village Well managing director Gilbert Rochecouste said.

Trenerry has appointed Hamilton Marino to undertake work at Burnham Beeches.

Hamilton Marino is working on the $135m rebirth of The Continental, due to open later this month.

The group owns South Yarra’s Poolman House with plans to convert it to a hotel and private members’ club which has been linked to international network Soho.