Evolving Port

Port Melbourne and Fishermans Bend change. Houses are changed or demolished and new forms of housing take their place. Port Houses records some of these changes.

01 October 2018

10 - 16 Boundary St, Montague, South Melbourne

1 October 2018

Buildings on site are being demolished and the site prepared for development.

18 October 2016

The City of Port Phillip issued a permit with conditions for a development of 30 dwellings in the form of three rows of four storey townhouses, with a basement car park.

The Council is the decision maker for developments of

The site is in a four storey mandatory height limit area as designated by Schedule 1 to the Capital City Zone (CCZ). 

31 August 2018

12 Spring St East, Port Melbourne

August 2020

12 Spring St East, August 2020

December 2019

under construction December 2019

In June 2019 new architects were appointed. They reverted to amended plan 830/2016. There will no longer be a basement. In August 2019 foundations were laid.

November 2018

The owner has decided not to proceed with the project and to sell the property instead.

31 August 2018

Memorial for 12 Spring Street east.

31 August 2018

After a protracted planning process the former home of Maisie Harrison was demolished over three days.

A magnificent camellia in full bloom went too.


April 2018

The applicant withdrew the appeal to VCAT on 11 April 2018.

September 2017

The applicant has appealed the Council's decision to VCAT.

August 2017

At its meeting of 2 August 2017, the City of Port Phillip approved a modified proposal for the construction of two double storey dwellings. 
The following specific conditions were included:

  •  Deletion of the second floor of dwelling one. 
  • The first floor windows on the eastern elevation to be obscured glass and fixed shut to a height of 1.7m above finished floor level. 
  • The finished floor level of the garage to be at least 1.962 AHD. 
  • The maximum height of the dwellings to be 7.88m above natural ground level.  
View the Council report of 2 August here.

21 April 2016

The house was sold for $1.96m by Frank Gordon estate agents. @FrankGordonCo notes the rarity of sites not covered by a heritage overlay. 

28 January 2016

As it is - full of quirky details.






7 November 2015

The Planning Permit Phase 

City of Port Phillip planning permit application 1036/2015 advises of the proposed demolition of this house and its replacement with two, two storey dwellings.

12 Spring Street East, 7 November 2015










29 June 2018

112 Munro St, South Melbourne

June 2018

Feverish activity at this site has been hard to make sense of - not apartments. What could it be?

Now it becomes clear. It will be a new venue Half Acre - South Melbourne's first garden bar and eatery - set  to open in August 2018.

27 June 2016


The site was sold in June 2016 for $8,100,000 by private treaty.

December 1995

Sold for $805,000

April 1983

The site was sold for $160,000 (source: Domain.com.au)

03 June 2018

Princes St, Port Melbourne

3 June 2018

Different expectations - 2018 v 2000. Two storeys was pushing the envelope in 2000, now three storeys is the default.

A street with no heritage overlay.



248 Graham St, Port Melbourne

3 June 2018

Three dwellings replace a single house on this long block.

Not sure by about the reference to the former dwelling.


from Nott St

2016

Planning application 1141/2016 was lodged with the City of Port Phillip on 6 December 2016 for 3 double storey townhouses.

The house was demolished in 2017.


2015

248 Graham St was sold on 15 October 2015 for $1,110,000.

Background

This was the family home of Joyce and Angus Richards and their three children. The house was given to the couple by their father-in-law when they married.

163 Liardet St, Port Melbourne

June 2019


3 June 2018

The house is being deconstructed to make way for a three storey dwelling with a rear garage (CoPP planning application 807/2015)


13 March 2015

The former family home of Mac Hatfield, gentle woman, participant at the nearby Port Melbourne Neighbourhood House. 

She told me that she and her husband built this house in place of the older house on the site to meet the needs of their growing family.

17 November 2014
6 December 2014

The house was sold by Frank Gordon for $1,180,000

28 April 2018

22 Spring St, Port Melbourne

28 April 2020

The house at 22 Spring St is being demolished this week.



12 December 2019

The old house is still standing.

December 2019

26 February 2018

VCAT affirmed the City of Port Phillip's decision to refuse a permit for the demolition of the house at 22 Spring St and the construction of a new two storey house with a basement and roof terrace.

There was no argument about the demolition and replacement of the heritage building but the amenity impacts of the roof terraces and balconies of the proposed development were considered unacceptable.

The member noted that 'three storey built form is not characteristic of the area, and particularly not evident from nearby'.

VCAT REFERENCE NO. P841/2017
PERMIT APPLICATION NO. P0890/2015

September 2017

The VCAT hearing scheduled for October has been postponed to February 2018.

July 2017



Planning application 890/2015 (lodged in August 2015) for 22 Spring St East for the demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of a two storey dwelling with basement level and rooftop terrace has been refused by the City of Port Phillip.

The grounds for refusal included 'the failure to provide a contextual response to the surrounding built form'.

The application has been appealed to VCAT and will be heard on 13 October.

31 March 2018

155 Dow St, Port Melbourne

March 2020

Biding its time. A quick make over including new landscaping.

29 March 2020
17 November 2018

The house was once again offered for auction by Hocking Stuart. It sold for $2,900,000.

March 2018

The house at 155 Dow St was passed in at auction. Its attributes are the large site and rear access.

It last changed hands in 1977. It was previously occupied by a Greek family.

In the garden is a peach tree and some canna lilies but the garden has been neglected for some time.

According to FN, a former owner had a furniture workshop in his garage.


155 Dow St, March 2018


According to realestate.com.au the site was last sold in 1977 for $46,500. 

30 March 2018

New life at 143 Farrell St, Port Melbourne

October 2017


The former life of 143 Farrell St is briefly described here.

15 -35 Thistlethwaite St, South Melbourne

June 2021

Construction is almost complete. Finishing touches are being applied to the building. Some people appear to have moved in.

The rear and side walls have been cheerfully painted but the cheer has been insufficient to deter early tagging. (not shown here).

rear wall of 15 - 35 Thistlethwaite St, South Melbourne

February 2019

Construction has begun on this project. A fence surrounds the development site. The builder is Ironside


February 2019 - builder appointed


March 2018

The site of Rothelowman's project South. The project draws inspiration from South Melbourne's industrial past 'by using natural materials reminiscent of the local streetscape in the design'.



Marketing highlights convenience - the site's neighbourhood walkability index of 92 and proximity to South Melbourne Market, schools and Port Melbourne.

The City of Port Phillip renewed the permit on 28 March 2018 since it had expired. The rationale for the permit extension is given in the planning report.

May 2016

The site is sold by Colliers.


December 2015

A permit was issued on 14 December 2015 (277/2015) for an 8 level building of 69 apartments.

22 June 2013


June 2013

The site is occupied by MVB Motor Vehicle Brokers, used car dealer.

12 March 2018

25 Barak Road, Port Melbourne


3 March 2018

The house was sold for $1,955,000 on 3 March 2018.

In March 2000, it sold for $327,000. (source: realestate.com.au)

Here is Marshall White's video.


000
August 2017

The re-built 'brick by brick' house at 25 Barak Road was passed in at auction for $1.9 million. The property impressed 'with its lavish detail' according to real estate agent Marshall White.


25 Barak Rd in 2013


History of the illegal demolition of 25 Barak Road

In the early morning of June 29th, 2008 the house at 25 Barak Road, Port Melbourne was illegally demolished. In a highly planned operation, heavy equipment was brought to the site early. A chain saw cut through the roof, and then the front wall was knocked in. Neighbours remonstrated with the wreckers. No demolition or planning permits had been obtained. The house is covered by a Heritage Overlay in recognition of the Fishermans Bend estate being the first constructed by the newly formed Housing Commission of Victoria. 


25 Barak Rd in 2012



July 2008
Port Phillip Council took the matter to court. For some time until the case was heard, the site was fenced off. The owner was prosecuted. The magistrate, Phillip Goldberg, said 'he could not impose the maximum fines of $150,000 because of sentencing discounts for his guilty pleas and lack of prior convictions "however enticing it might be". The court Hodo Zeqaj was convicted and fined $45,000 with $7500 costs.' (The Age, 13 May 2009)

The decision required that original material be retained on site to be incorporated into the reconstruction of the front facade of the house.

A planning permit for the house was finally issued by VCAT in August 2009. The permit was to

'Retrospectively approve the partial demolition of an existing dwelling and the construction of a new ground and first floor alterations and additions including repairing and restoring the original front facade and roof of the dwelling on the site'.


Prior to the redevelopment, the modest foundations of the original house were revealed, as well as a fine lemon tree near the back fence.

Back to the foundations
The redevelopment is now complete.

What do you make of this tale of 25 Barak Road?


164 Ingles St, Sandridge Precinct, Fishermans Bend

November 2017


rear of townhouses at 164 Ingles St,  November 2017
April 2017


Canny project on Boundary St, Port Melbourne, April 2017

September 2016


under construction - a late afternoon inwinter 2016

crossovers on Woodruff St - September 2016

Ingles and Munro St corner approaches completion December 2016

20 November 2015

Canny Projects has begun construction on the $80m Stamoulis Property Group development in Port Melbourne.

The project, which will consist of 287 ... townhouses on the old soap manufacturer, Symex, site, is scheduled for completion in late 2017.

Canny was awarded the contract for the design and construction of triple storey three bedroom luxury townhouses, built in and around heritage-listed buildings on Woodruff and Ingles Streets, opposite the Port Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The first stage will consist of 13 townhouses on the corner of Ingles Street and Munro Street which is scheduled to be completed early 2016.

Source:


10 December 2013

In September 2013, a draft vision for the  Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area was released by then Planning Minister, Matthew Guy.

Shortly thereafter, the City of Port Phillip was asked by the Minister to provide advice on the application.

the plan for 164 Ingles Street

The Council considered the application on 10 December 2013. Here are a few references from the Council report:

  • (4.1) the application seeks ... to redevelop the site for dwellings in accordance with a masterplan ... as it would allow for in principle approval, with detailed designs to be submitted for approval prior to the commencement of each development stage.
  • (4.4) A new vehicular and pedestrian access known as the 'Boulevard' would link Boundary and Ingles Streets
  • (4.4) a north south road known as Woodruff Drive would run from Woodruff Street and link to the centre of the Boulevard ... with a width of 8m (building to building)
  • (9.7) the granting of a planning permit for a master plan, conditional on the later submission of detailed plans for each development stage ... is recognised as a legitimate means of allowing the development in principle of a large site, while providing the flexibility to respond to market conditions in the future given that the development could potentially take a number of years. 
  • (13.2) Recommendation, second dot point: A section 173 agreement requiring the owner to inform every prospective purchaser or tenant of a dwelling that industry and the City of Port Phillip Resource Recovery Centre are located proximate to the site 
The extent to which the Council's recommendations were accepted is unclear since the planning process then disappeared from public view.

The City of Port Phillip advised the Minister that it broadly supported the application for 164 Ingles Street  'to redevelop the site for approximately 250, three and four storey dwellings in accordance with a master plan'.

More
City of Port Phillip report 10 December 2013 164 Ingles St, Port Melbourne

24 January 2018

131 Esplanade East, Port Melbourne

24 January 2018

End of the road for this house today - one of a series of houses built on former Lagoon land between the wars.

Just happened to be passing by as demolition began.

Planning application 7/2017 was approved in May last year for the construction of a two storey house with garage and pool.

January 2018