Bellarine’s record-setting properties face demolition to make way for $6m coastal mansion

Just two years after setting a Bellarine price record, owners have revealed plans to demolish a $10.2m property. Find out what’s replacing it.

Just two years after setting a Bellarine Peninsula price record by spending $10.2m on a Barwon Heads property, the owners have revealed they plan to demolish the houses and build a $6m mansion.

But they could face a fight with locals, as some have voiced their opposition to the construction of modern houses which one termed “a blight on the landscape”.

A planning application lodged with the City of Greater Geelong sought to demolish two houses at 2-4 Stephens Pde, Barwon Heads, an exclusive strip wedged between the beach and Barwon Heads Golf Course.

The estimated $6m construction cost is on top of the $10.2m spent in 2020 buying the property which included a contemporary house built in 2004.

Under the plans lodged with council, the developer would replace the existing homes with a double-storey, L-shaped building featuring a seven-car parking basement, underground gym, cellar and movie theatre, seven bedrooms and an outdoor pool.

An artist’s impression of what the new property at Stephens Pde would look like.

Planning documents submitted to the city say the plans take into account the property’s location within the Golf Links Heritage Area.

“In summary, demolition of both buildings can be supported with regard to heritage considerations, subject to an appropriate replacement design that is sufficiently in keeping with its heritage overlay context,” the documents say.

“The proposal is two storeys in scale which respects the prevailing heights in the streetscape and is consistent with council policy.

This weatherboard house would make way for the new building. Picture: Alan Barber

These buildings would be demolished.

“The primary and secondary frontages are approached by sensitively managing the front, side and rear setbacks that all have public view lines.

“The proposed restrained palette of materials, contemporary character, complementary timber fence and landscaping, responds to the greater Barwon Heads heritage character and is considered an appropriate replacement development and will sit comfortably in this isolated section of the Stephens Pde streetscape.”

An aerial view of the Barwon Heads property which is the subject of a building application.

Some nearby residents, however, are opposed to the plan and have sought local support.

“There is strong community opposition to this planning permit,” John Bowman wrote on a local social media community page.

“We are living at the tipping point of a climate change crisis; must we continue to live in a throwaway society and extinguish it? This is the demolition of CoGG’s sustainability, and clever and creative value.”

Another person, Kerry Marsh, wrote: “We need to have our own council as Queenscliff does and wanton destruction of houses come under stricter planning laws.

“The uniqueness of towns is lost when there is a mass of modern houses that often are a blight on the landscape.”

Originally published as Bellarine’s record-setting properties face demolition to make way for $6m coastal mansion