People Power - VCAT victory for the Albert Park Community

A recent ruling on the fate of No 1 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park, has shown the power of community, and what can be achieved when people come together. The property was the home of renowned Australian filmmaker Paul Cox. It also housed his studios. Presenting now as a rather unusual ‘Art Deco’ building, the property was built on the island ‘V’ between Victoria Ave and Merton Street.  

As can be seen from the early photo of the building and those taken now, it had enjoyed a more lavish appearance in the past with much ironwork and accompanying verandahs. Nevertheless, according to recent engineering reports prepared for the VCAT hearing by the City of Port Phillip, it is basically sound with only some minor internal cracking occurring.

The building was remodelled in the 1920s and 1930s, to add Art Deco features, as was the fashion of the times.

The current developers had indicated that it was their intention to demolish the building and had applied to Port Phillip Council for a demolition permit. This application was denied. The developers then appealed to VCAT.

 It was the developers’ intention to replace the current building with a four-storey high block of seven apartments, a 100 seat restaurant, two shops and a basement car park. Modernistic in style, it was considered by many to be totally at odds with a streetscape of two-storey Victorian terraces and the adjacent Albert Park shopping precinct, with its historical buildings and heritage overlay. 

The VCAT members John Bennett and Juliette Halliday were in agreement with this sentiment and ruled accordingly this week.

“We are not satisfied that the replacement building displays the necessary level of design excellence to justify the demolition of the existing building. For this reason we will not issue a permit for the demolition of the building.” 

The National Trust had also objected to the proposed demolition, its reasoning being “that it was important to protect and preserve all significant and contributory places within the heritage overlay – mostly consisting of rows of double-storey Victorian residential shops, single-storey Victorian shops and Edwardian and interwar shops.” 

The developer now has the option of submitting alternative plans, but it is highly likely there would be a requirement to reduce the number of levels and stylistically provide a design more in keeping with the surrounding neighbourhood.  

The ‘Don’t Destroy Albert Park’ campaigners who objected to the demolition of the building don’t realistically see this happening as the financial returns based on the current property valuation would not provide a viable return. Spokesperson Amber Moore put it this way “We know now that the only way it can be demolished is if and when another design is submitted. It would have to be of genuine architectural excellence.”

The group had widespread community support and raised over $35K through crowdfunding to ensure its viewpoints were included and expressed at the VCAT hearings.

According to the Age: “We’ve spent so much time looking at the building, wondering what was going to happen and hoping that glass monstrosity wouldn’t be put there. We’re absolutely thrilled to bits.” Amber said. “This decision is of great benefit to residents who, within heritage precincts, are fighting to prevent unsympathetic redevelopments of significant heritage buildings,” said local lawyer Peter Kenny.

Albert Park is a unique heritage suburb with great charm and beauty and now, in all probability, will remain so – a living reminder of Melbourne’s formation and vibrant past. Overall this exercise is a timely reminder of why many people have chosen to purchase a home here, demonstrating the elements of living here they value and just how hard they will fight to retain it.

By Michael Nelthorpe - MBC