125-133 Thistlethwaite Street, South Melbourne

5 October 2013

Marc Pallisco reports in today's Age that a planning application for a 26 level, 184 unit complex for this site was lodged shortly before the state government released the Fishermans Bend vision document and associated design guidelines. He says that some developers were disappointed since they had been encouraged to submit 30 level plus proposals. Now the vision proposes height controls in this part of Montague.

The property, zoned Capital City Zone (CCZ1), was sold on the 24 April for $4.2m.

Lemon Baxter described the property as representing "an unprecedented future high rise development opportunity".

Similar sites within the area are proposing applications for high rise of between 21-50 Levels (STPA). 

As reported by Marc Pallisco in The Age on April 20, 2013, the "Thistlethwaite Street site is the first offered for auction in Montague since last year's Capital City 1 rezoning. The agents expect $4m which would reflect a land rate of about $3,300 a square metre. Before the rezone, the rate per square metre of land was about $2,000."

125 - 133 Thistlethwaite St, April 2013

Sales history:

August 2017 $6,350,000

December 2013 $4,125,000

October 2010 $2,630,000

February 1981 $205,000

• .

Sustainable Houses in Port Melbourne

This Port Melbourne house - with solar panels, water capture, locally indigenous garden, lemon tree, edible garden out the back, and a fence that encourages neighbourly interaction - shows how attractively such features can be incorporated.

Running Postman Kennedia Prostrata

Some people say that sustainability is an over used word that has lost its meaning. The ten principles of One Planet Living offer an accessible framework for sustainable living that incorporates the social and cultural dimensions of life. 

74 Nott St, Port Melbourne

April 2016

74 Nott St, April 2016 

April 2016

Approaching completion

2 February 2014

Marketing

28 August 2013

Decline

Houses can be like ill people. They go downhill, and then one day, they're gone.

Every time I walked past this house, it looked more neglected, the garden more overgrown. It had a very nice japonica in the front garden. And then one day, the house had gone.

74 Nott St in 2013

143 Farrell St, Port Melbourne

8 September 2013

'It was a delight to know you'

Marking the life of George Jeffreys (1934 to 20 July 2013) born and died in this small area of Port Melbourne.

George loved classical music, his bike and sitting in the sun in the front yard of his home.

143 Farrell St, September 2013

Doesn't the sun shine on postcode 3207?

5 August 2013

Over 1 million Australian homes now have roof top solar systems installed, according to the Climate Commission's recent report: The Critical Decade - Australia's Future - Solar Energy. 

By the end of June 2013, 96 of those were installed in Port Melbourne, generating 225.752 kw, according to a report by postcode on the Clean Energy Regulator's website. That doesn't seem very many or very much for a population of 14,508. Port Melbourne has 8,056 dwellings of which 10% are separate house dwellings (2011 census) 

This suggests we could be doing more in Port to increase the uptake of solar panels. By way of contrast, the great infographics on the Commission's website highlight that Werribee has the highest uptake of solar hot water systems of any postcode.

This Port family reports: 

'We have a 12 panel 3kW system. It came on line in October 2012 and to date we have generated 2152 kWh according to our smart meter! In our last billing period (92 days) we generated 386 kWh and received $119.80 for our solar contribution.'

There are some fantastic resources to assist - suggest the Clean Energy Council as one.

Do good fences make good neighbour(hood)s? 1

4 August 2013

A feature in Domain (3/8) on front fences prompts a post on front fences in Port Melbourne. In a heritage overlay area, a planning permit is required for a front fence. Some people think that is too onerous. Port Phillip Council provides guidelines for fences in heritage overlay areas to assist. There's a lot to consider in a front fence.
The fence marks the line between private property and the street - the public domain. It can do that in a 'keep out' kind of way, or in a way that creates more of a dialogue between the house and the street.
'Heritage overlay' may suggest picket fences. In one block, I saw some fine contemporary fences and a harsh interpretation of the guidelines. 

contemporary picket fence

harsh and horizontal - fits the house but not the neighbouring houses

pleasing, well suited to the house

Your thoughts?

Sources
Implementation of C89 - Review of Port Melbourne's heritage overlay
Port Phillip Council guidelines on fences

305 The Boulevard, Port Melbourne

August 2019

The property changed hands for $2.1m.

July 2013

On 13 July 2013, 305 The Boulevard, Port Melbourne was sold for $1.326 m. The Department of Human Services property was auctioned by Greg Hocking.

The Fishermens Bend estate is covered by a heritage overlay reflecting its significance to the history of housing in Victoria. The overlay is supported by guidelines for redevelopment particular to the estate.

It is hard to reconcile that these modest dwellings, built for people in dire need of housing in the 1930s, now sell for such huge sums.

305 The Boulevard, Port Melbourne

'Faux heritage versus contemporary' or something in between?

The Age (8 July) article  'Faux heritage versus contemporary home design' gave several photographic examples of each. Is the argument really as polarised as that?

The purpose of heritage policy is 'To conserve and enhance heritage places of natural or cultural significance'. Planners use a range of decision guidelines to assess applications but the guideline of greatest interest to observers of Port Melbourne's streetscapes is likely to be 'Whether the location, bulk, form and appearance of the proposed building is in keeping with the character and appearance of adjacent buildings and the heritage place.'

The planning scheme map of Port Melbourne shows the areas covered by a heritage overlay. In a heritage overlay area, a planning permit is required for most changes. In Port, there are many examples of additions to heritage places and new houses that have replaced heritage buildings. Some of the additions pre-date the current policy or pre-date guidelines or studies for particular areas such as Garden City and planning amendment C89 which implemented the recent review of Port Melbourne's heritage overlay.

As with all planning matters, there is vigorous contention. Some people  prefer additions to look pretty much the same as the original house, whereas others favour contemporary additions. The intention of contemporary additions, supported by the Burra Charter, is to leave an observer, now or in the future, in no doubt as to which is the original fabric and which is the new.

Here are some examples I find pleasing. This Heath St house demonstrates to me that 'many architects and designers understand that good "contemporary design" can take many forms, and one form is to design buildings that are polite to their neighbours. And to be "polite" does not necessitate the crass imitation of past styles.' (Michael Jorgensen, letter to The Age July 10, 2013)

a replacement building that is polite and respectful of its neighbours
Heath St, Port Melbourne

cnr Graham and Dow St, Port Melbourne

Any addition to this house, being on a corner, would be highly visible. The house may be double fronted but the site is small. This addition is set into the roof space to reduce its prominence. The dark colour is recessive. As you can see, the addition is not visible from Graham Street, so the objective of retaining the significance of the heritage place is fulfilled.

Knowing that people have different views about planning and particularly on this matter, this is an invitation for you to nominate your best and worst examples in Port Melbourne.

205 & 207 Esplanade West, Port Melbourne

2 February 2016

2 02 2016

7 October 2014
Clearing the site
The plaster oozed like cream in a layered cake. Gone now.
The houses are/were at that interesting junction between Dow St and Esplanade West, Port Melbourne that lead to endless confusion for taxi drivers.

5 July 2013
The planning permit phase
The property at 205 Esplanade West begins its journey to a new incarnation with the appearance of the planning notice on the fence. The proposal is for three, three storey townhouses with roof terraces.
Planning application 454/2013 was lodged on 29 May 2013. You can track the application on Port Phillip's application register.

205 & 207 Esplanade West

November 2012
Changing hands

The property sold for $1,600,000 (source Sold Price)

35 Albert Street – a neglected gem now ripe for renovation

A neglected gem now ripe for renovation

35 Albert St, April 2013

After decades of neglect which didn’t bode well for a double-fronted Victorian house at 35 Albert Street, approval was sought to demolish the building and replace it with three two-storey townhouses. The City of Port Phillip and Albert Street residents combined to affect a change of heart. The application changed to a proposed restoration and extension to this now heritage-listed building, and a reduced scope of works which now includes just one adjoining townhouse.

VCAT issued a permit on 21 June 2013 which requires the retention of the double-fronted dwelling which will contribute greatly to the heritage rejuvenation in this section of Albert Street. 

contributed by Greg Hansen

Going solar in Heath St

Queens Terrace, Port Melbourne

June 2013

Queens Terrace, Nott St, Port Melbourne

Queens Terrace forms an identical pair of terraces with Jubilee Terrace. They were built in 1887 for agent Alexander Gunn and named in honour of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria's accession. 

Both Queens Terrace and Jubilee Terrace comprise an intact continuous single storey group of seven. Each terrace has an ununsual central pedimental motif containing the terrace name. 

Together, they provide the best example of single storey terrace housing in Port Melbourne, according to the Port Melbourne Conservation Study prepared by Jacob Lewis Vines in July 1979

This picture was taken in the afternoon after the solstice.

98 Princes St, Port Melbourne

August 2019

The house references shipping containers, I am told.

August 2019

June 2016

June 2015

The house at 98 Princes St has been demolished.

June 2015

14 January 2015

We last reported on 98 Princes St when the house was sold after Sylvia Gleeson died. Her family operated the eastern kiosk on Station Pier from 1933 to 1971.

It’s about to be woken from its rest with an application to demolish the house to construct a two storey dwelling with a two story garage/studio at the rear. (City of Port Phillip Ref No 588/2014)

A life lived in 98 Princes St

98 Princes St was sold on 4 May 2013. Sylvia Gleeson lived in that house until she died. Her family operated the eastern kiosk on Station Pier from 1933 to 1971. She recalls

"Well, really, it was long hours - you had to be open before the stevedores started work, before seven; and in the summertime you'd be open until 1 or 2 in the morning to pay for your rent during winter, when there wasn't any customers, beachwise.

My father used to push a barrow ... up to the pier five days per week to sell hot pies, sandwiches, chocolate, biscuits, soft drinks, cigarettes and koala bears for travelers and wharf workers, tally clerks. Customs men, at the bottom of the stairs. I used to relieve him for his lunch break - I'd ride up to the pier on my bike and he would ride back to the shop.


When the migrants arrived here after the war, relatives - especially Italian - would buy large blocks of Cadbury chocolate, six or ten at a time, to throw up to the rails of ships where relatives were waiting to come ashore through Customs."

These are just some snippets that Sylvia told in They Can Carry Me Out: Memories of Port Melbourne.

Source:
They Can Carry Me Out: Memories of Port Melbourne Vintage Port: 'Worth Preserving' 1991 p74/5

Pairs

Bridge St

I am especially fond of this pair of houses on the corner of Bridge and Lyons St - on the edge of the former Sandridge Lagoon. The shop on the right is a tailor. It is like a museum piece. The verandahs bear the Port Melbourne crest.

Pairs

Californian bungalows in Stokes St

95 - 101 Dow St, Port Melbourne

Waterside

5 December 2013

95 Dow St was formerly at the rear of TEAC's administrative headquarters and repair centre. It was in the video days and it was handy to have a video repair place nearby. 95 Dow St was occupied partly by a carpark servicing the TEAC offices and partly by a a low level office building that was home to Armaguard. It was in the days when people were paid weekly or fortnightly in cash, and so there was regular coming and going to the site.

TEAC headquarters on Bay St
c1987 image courtesy Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society

Planning history

Following the construction of Bianca, the rear of the site fronting to Dow St was sold and a fresh application was submitted to Port Phillip Council that was broadly consistent with a previous approval. The site has had several permits issued over a period of time. The proposal for Waterside was appealed to VCAT by resident objectors and subsequently approved by VCAT on 28 February 2010. [ref P3225/2010]

This artwork on Dow St was the urban art contribution for the development.

Waterside contains 120 apartments and 3 levels of carparking.

Architect: Plus Architecture
Builder: Icon Corp
Partners: Beck Projects
Developer: Buxton Group and Beck Projects JV

Some site history

'The vacant land fronting on Bay St between Scotts Hotel and the boot shop on the corner of Little Bay St, known as 'the flat' was for many years prior to World War 2 a gathering place. It extended to the rear of the terrace houses in Dow St. All the houses in Little Bay St north side backed on to the flat. The other side was taken up almost wholly by land at the rear of the National Bank.'

[recalled by Edwin Whiting, formerly a resident of Dow St.]

216 Rouse St, Port Melbourne

5 November 2013

Two apartment buildings in the vicinity of  Rouse St, Port Melbourne - Tjingari at 216 Rouse St and Armada at 115 Nott St, were finalists in the City of Port Phillip's Design and Development awards in the category of  'Best new development of 6+ storeys.'

The awards were held in St Kilda on Wednesday evening. Peter Maddison,  the guest speaker, spoke on the theme of innovation.

"How do we imagine the future when all that we know is the past?" was the teasing question he posed.

Tjingari won the Urban Art category for the work 'My mother's country.'

Tjingari
Architects: De Jong

259 The Boulevard, Port Melbourne

4 May 2013

259 The Boulevard, 17 December 2012

16 June 2011

259 The Boulevard, 16 June 2011

Dahlias

There always seems to be one flower that captures the essence of a season. Today as dry winds whip around and the dark closes in early, I thought I would celebrate the dahlia - the essence of the last of summer.
Dahlias are getting harder to find in Port. Flowers suffer badly from garden fashion - in today, out tomorrow. The only remaining Dahlias seem to be found in the gardens of Greek residents. For many years, Greek gardens were derided. Now growing your own vegetables is de rigeur, and colour is back in fashion, but not, it seems dahlias. The dominant species in Port seems to either be iceberg roses or plants which survive on any windswept balcony and neglect. There is a loss of living diversity in the suburb.

63 Rouse St, Port Melbourne

Kosdown to Evie

When Port Melbourne began its mighty transition in the early 1990s, each new apartment development was accompanied by a brochure. Now, each new project has a website. The branding of each project is obviously critical to marketing success. 

This project dispenses with luxury names, the store of which must be almost depleted: Iconica, Luur. 

It ignores its proximity to the water and air: Aqueous, Aere, and dispenses with references to views - Bayview, Portview. 

Evie's gaze is more direct and personal. The display is transparent and open, the look clean and minimal. 

121 Liardet St, Port Melbourne

2019

Through 2018, SHIP (Social Health and Inclusion Port) with funding support from the Port Phillip Community Group ran a community film making project.

This short film about Kyme Place, A Place to Call Home, was one of those produced through the project.

28 April 2013

Kyme Place has become the 'Treehouse' to its residents, according to the positive review of this affordable housing development in The Age on Friday 26 April. It is rare that the words 'delightful' and 'worthy' occur in combination as in the article. Clark takes a detached look at the development - her views not coloured by the controversy surrounding the development in 2008.

The project is a 27 dwelling building, comprising five 1-bedroom units and 22 studios across three levels above a Council-owned car park. The 'air rights' were transferred to HousingFirst (formerly the Port Phillip Housing Association) for the development and Council retains ownership and management of the public car park under the new development (22 spaces)

The project is targeted for low income single persons with significant links to the City of Port Phillip. The households allocated to the project have a mix of housing backgrounds, many having experienced homelessness or housing related stress.

It was completed in June 2012.

Architects: McGauran Giannini Soon
Developer: Port Phillip Housing Association

20 April 2009

The Port Melbourne Affordable Housing Project Assessment Panel Committee

The development proposed 31 rooming house units over 4 levels.

The application was originally advertised on 28 October 2008.

The site was formerly a carpark created in approximately June 1988.


History of 121 Liardet St

Boats were built here! The Volunteer was built by Jesse William Merrington on the vacant block next to the Merrington's home, 121 Liardet Street, around 1920 or 1921.  The Volunteer was later sold to George Beazley.

227 Esplanade West, Port Melbourne

December 2013

227 Esplanade West, 7 December 2013

17 December 2012

The site is cleared.

17 December 2012

Lyons St frontage prior to demolition

1976

227 Esplanade West, newly built in 1976 City of Port Phillip collection