Tea House preserved ... for now

By Sean Car

An application for a 24-storey development at the site adjoining Southbank’s iconic heritage Robur Tea Building has been refused a permit by Heritage Victoria.

Developer RJ International (Aus) Pty Ltd’s application for a hotel at 28 Clarendon St was originally submitted as a 39-storey proposal back in 2017.

However, its latest proposal has been denied a permit by Heritage Victoria, which wrote to the developer on December 21 explaining its reasons for refusal:

“It has been determined that the construction of a 24-storey tower on the Robur Tea Building site would have a substantial detrimental impact on the cultural heritage significance of the place and on the setting and views of the Robur Tea Building.”

“It has been determined that refusal would not prevent the reasonable or economic use of the registered place; also, that viable economic use of the Robur Tea Building does not require the level of change proposed.”

Constructed in 1887, the Robur Tea Building is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and Heritage Victoria must ultimately approve any works impacting the site.

While the Tea House itself will remain intact under the proposal, the southern lift shaft, which was added onto the original building, is not heritage listed and will be demolished if an application is approved.

Heritage Victoria’s refusal means the developer will now likely pursue an amended proposal for the site. Refusals issued by Heritage Victoria can only be appealed to the Heritage Council, not the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

The City of Melbourne’s chair of heritage and assistant chair of planning Cr Rohan Leppert told Southbank Local News that the proposal in its current form would have overwhelmed the historic Tea House.

“The Tea House is one of the last indicators of the industrial and warehousing district that once dominated the south bank of the Yarra,” he said.

“It’s so important that we keep these traces of our history, especially buildings with such outstanding architectural and engineering significance.”

“Heritage Victoria’s decision acknowledges that the proposed new building would have overwhelmed the Tea House. But there’s still a live planning application, and the applicant is free to pursue modified proposals as well, which I don’t want to pre-judge.”

“I think the site is able to be developed, but like Heritage Victoria, council will be considering whether the Tea House is being given enough room to ensure its integrity as a building of state significance stays intact.”

RJ International did not respond to Southbank Local News for comment.