By NICOLE VALICEK
COMMUNITY group Save Williamstown and Hobsons Bay City Council has vowed to fight a decision made by Heritage Victoria to deny the Oriental Hotel in Williamstown heritage status.
The Oriental Hotel has failed to win support for state heritage listing following a decision by Heritage Victoria recently.
Heritage Victoria has announced it will recommend to the Heritage Council that the Oriental Hotel not be included on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Godfrey Moase from Save Williamstown said they were upset Heritage Victoria has not yet recognised the obvious value that the former Oriental Hotel has for all of Victoria.
“This is a unique building, a common treasure that has been run into the ground by the developer, and their reward is a bucket of money,” he said.
Mr Moase said it was important to remember this is not the final decision and now was the time for the community to have its voice heard.
He said the group is planning a protest in mid-April and want people to tell Heritage Victoria how they feel about the Oriental.
Hobsons Bay mayor Sandra Wilson said the council was extremely disappointed at the decision and would now make a submission to the Heritage Council.
“The council has done everything it can to save the Oriental, including supporting its heritage listing,” Cr Wilson said.
Victoria’s planning tribunal approved the demolition of the 19th-century Oriental Hotel in Williamstown last December.
The Victorian Civil and Administrate Tribunal ruled the demolition of the 150-year-old Oriental Hotel was acceptable because the building was in poor condition and much of it had to be demolished.
Cr Wilson said all of the council’s legal avenues are nearly exhausted, however the council will continue to argue the case for the protection of the Oriental via its submission to the Heritage Council.
“While the council opposed its demolition, VCAT approved it. The council supported the heritage listing, Heritage Victoria did not,” Cr Wilson said.
“Heritage Victoria notes that at least five hotels constructed in Williamstown in the next decade still exist and the council will ask that it expedites the assessment process to see these buildings included on Victorian Heritage Register.”
These are:
* Former Prince of Wales, 1 Nelson Place (c1857).
* Former Napier Hotel, 50 Stevedore Street (1858).
* Former Alfred Hotel, 92 Stevedore Street (1859-60).
* Former Telegraph Hotel, 17 Ann Street (1862).
* Steam Packet Hotel, Cole Street (1862-63).
