What is happening at 310 St Kilda Rd?

By Sean Car

Politicians on all sides continue to dodge questions about 310 St Kilda Rd. But why?

For many years the former repatriation clinic has sat idle on the corner of St Kilda Rd and Coventry St.

A prime piece of heritage real estate gathering dust in Southbank. Unheard of!

Like the rest of Victoria Barracks, the building is owned by the Department of Defence, which has been trying to offload the site for many years now, stating it is surplus to requirements.

Being within direct proximity to Victoria Barracks and the Shrine of Remembrance, it would make sense that its future use should give back to veterans in some way, right?

And being zoned within Melbourne’s Arts Precinct, imagine if it also had a creative function …

The Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM) group has, for many years now, sought information from all sides of politics on the status of the building. It is still seeking to becoming a trustee of the site in order to establish an art gallery, studios and community and retail space in the building for veterans to practise art and recover from trauma.

The site is understood to be riddled with asbestos. Some politicians have estimated the remediation works associated in resurrecting the building will cost north of $10 million or even $20 million. While lofty, these are costs ANVAM has stated that its willing to seek philanthropic support for.

On paper, nonetheless, this sounds like a lot of money to commit to a project that many politicians have said doesn’t sit high on the list of priorities in the grand scheme of all of the other issues and projects that need their attention more. Fair enough.

But why then, with a state Labor government launching a royal commission in mental health and a federal Coalition government throwing $500 million (yes, that’s right) at upgrading the Canberra War Memorial over 10 years, does this project seem so hard to get any answers on?

Different ministers from both major parties at a federal level have thrown their support behind the ANVAM proposal. Potential future prime minister Bill Shorten has even publicly stated it as part of his government’s policy platform in the past.

However, the Victorian Government hasn’t been so forthcoming as to reveal its own aspirations for the site.

The Department of Defence last year invited the state government to bid for the site in an off-the-market sale. Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas made an offer (details unknown) which was knocked back.

According to the Department of Defence’s secretary for estate and infrastructure Steve Grzeskowiak, its bid was “non-compliant with government procurement rules.” What Mr Grzeskowiak was referring to when addressing Federal Senate Estimates on February 20 was the Commonwealth Property Disposal Policy.

Under rules for an off-the-market sale – a sale to a state, territory or local government – has to:

Protect Commonwealth property interests;

Facilitate Commonwealth or co-operative policy initiatives that could not otherwise be achieved through an open market sale; or

Optimise broader government outcomes including economic or social outcomes.

A Defence spokesperson later said that the in-principle offer from the Victorian Government to acquire the building came subject to a number of conditions.

“One of the conditions in the offer was inconsistent with the Commonwealth Property Disposal Policy,” the spokesperson said. Naturally, we can’t know the detail!

Reading between the lines though, it would appear that the state and Commonwealth aren’t fully aligned on what should be done with the building.

So if, as it’s understood, the Commonwealth thinks ANVAM’s proposal for the site is a good idea, but does the state government have other ideas?

It’s hard to know for sure. However, while the state government is still interested, there is hope. Mr Grzeskowiak later told Senate Estimates on February 20:

“Last week, we received a letter from the Victoria Government explaining to us the type of bid that they are prepared to make. We are assessing that at the moment,” he said.

“Shortly, we will be providing advice to government on whether the bid that we’ve got from the Victorian Government meets the Commonwealth property disposal regulations or not.”

Asked what the state government’s intentions for the site were, a spokesperson for Mr Pallas told Southbank Local News: “The Victorian Government considers strategic opportunities to acquire available sites. It would be premature to comment while discussions with the Commonwealth are underway.”

Whatever the situation, ANVAM can take small comfort out of its three local candidates for our local seat of Macnamara, who seem generally supportive.

The Liberal’s Kate Ashmor is a known supporter, Labor’s Josh Burns is receptive and, while she hasn’t met with the group yet, Greens candidate Steph Hodgins-May said the site had to be kept in public hands.

“The Repatriation Hospital Building is a historic site that has a long connection with our veterans and service community,” she said.

“Defence no longer wanting the site presents an opportunity for both the federal and state governments to give something back to our ex-service community.”

Kate Ashmor told Southbank Local News: “This derelict building is in the heart of our veterans precinct, and is the perfect place to give ANVAM a home. This is a wonderful opportunity to create a community hub, and to strengthen our support and care for our cherished veterans and their families.”

Southbank Local News submitted a request under Freedom of Information (FoI) for a copy of the correspondence to Defence from the state government outlining the terms of its latest bid. It was not received in time for publishing this edition.