Buninyong Tourist Accommodation: A Significantly Reduced Impact

January 2025

A project that refuses to go away, the ‘sky barrel’ tourist apartments resurfaced during 2023. After the rejection of an application to build six giant wine barrel-shaped accommodation units on Mount Buninyong, the owner of the site continued to seek approval for various types of tourist accommodation. The latest attempt has been to seek approval for four tourist cabins (converted shipping containers) to be placed on the site on the south side of Mt Buninyong, adjacent to the one half-finished barrel. The RHSV, the Buninyong and District Historical Society and the City of Ballarat have opposed the proposal, and the owner has again gone to VCAT.

A compulsory conference was held on 13 October 2023, when the development company, Lapilli La Mt Buninyong Pty Ltd, submitted revised plans in an attempt to gain approval from the City of Ballarat. The Buninyong and District Historical Society objected to the new plans, which were only a very marginal improvement on the original proposal. The upshot of the hearing was that the applicant was requested to submit an updated Cultural Heritage Management Plan. The matter went to VCAT on 18-21 November 2024.

On 17 January 2025 VCAT, subject to a number of conditions, approved the construction of eight single bedroom accommodation units on the lower edge of the property, significantly reducing the visual impact of the proposed design.

Since or January update, the developer has been placed in voluntary administration, casting doubt on
whether the project will proceed.

Robur Tea House: Less of a Landmark

January 2025

The fate of the landmark 135 year-old Robur Tea House appears to have been decided. The Tea House has been subjected to a series of development proposals, all of which have been of concern to the RHSV. In 2017, an application was made to build a 39 storey hotel next to the Tea House. When this was rejected by Heritage Victoria, the developer applied for approval to build a 24 storey tower. This too was rejected. Then came an application for a 25-storey mixed-use development, comprising of a hotel, high-end apartments and office and retail spaces. When this proposal failed, an application was made to construct seven integrated towers and buildings between three and 27 storeys surrounding the Robur Tea House on three sides.

As it had with earlier proposals, the RHSV objected, emphasising the building’s seminal historical importance as ‘one of the few remaining traces of the industrial and warehousing establishments that until the 1970s and 1980s dominated the south bank of the Yarra’. Heritage Victoria was also unimpressed by the proposal and rejected it. But the developer persevered, and in June 2024 Heritage Victoria approved ‘Construction of seven integrated towers and buildings ranging in height from 30 levels to 3 levels surrounding the Robur Tea Buildimg on the north, south, and west elevations, and part demolition, adaption and conservation of the Robur Tea Building’. Construction is expected to commence in 2025.

Sunshine Technical College Buildings Saved

January 2025

The impending demolition of the former Sunshine Technical College, two lovely art deco buildings, has been avoided. In January 2024, Heritage Victoria concluded that the two structures lacked State-level cultural heritage significance and thus should not be listed in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). However, the RHSV, the National Trust, Brimbank Council and the Sunshine Historical Society all voiced their opposition to this decision. Both the Heritage Committee of the RHSV and Brimbank Council made submissions to the Heritage Council of Victoria (HCV), underscoring the buildings’ significant historical and architectural value and staunchly advocating for their preservation. The RHSV along with Sunshine and Districts Historial Society supported Brimbank City Council’s appeal and on 20 January 2025 the HCV found against Heritage Victoria. The HCV recognised that the two former Sunshine Technical College buildings are indeed of State-level cultural heritage significance and should be included in the VHR as a Registered Place.

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Preservation Win for Historic Railway Shed

January 2023

The Number 2 Goods Shed in Docklands, near Southern Cross Station is one of the most significant buildings in Victoria’s rail and industrial history. Built in 1889, it is the largest and most architecturally elaborate nineteenth century railway goods building in Victoria. Despite its listing on the Victorian Heritage Register, in the early 2000s it was cut in half when Collins Street was extended into Docklands, and the two halves redeveloped as office spaces. In 2022 a developer applied to Heritage Victoria for a permit to demolish more of the shed in order to build two substantial office towers where the sheds are cut by the Collins Street extension. Fortunately the application was refused.

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