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.

24 August 2019

80 Bridge St, Port Melbourne

24 August 2019

The house at 80 Bridge St was sold on 24 August.


For once, the agents acknowledged the rich past of this modest dwelling, the family home of Edith and Ron Amy.

"This fabulous Victorian home has provided forty years of love and laughter to the family, now it's time to see new owners enjoy the same benefits and the potential to restore the home to it's original beauty and incorporate 21st century lifestyle living."


Shout out to Chisholm & Gamon

23 August 2019

139 - 145 Montague St, South Melbourne

May 2020

May 2020


August 2019

The 'renowned' Olympia Gym has gone. The premises are being leased by Conquest.

Holding up the corner of Montague and Thistlethwaite St since 1991
Olympia Gymnasium's facebook site says: "After 28 years of inflicting pain, Paul is pulling down the roller shutter for the last time.

Everyone who calls the gym home knows that Paul is here from 5.30 in the morning to 10.30 at night, 365 days a year.

Paul has decided he needs some time out. So, with mixed emotions, he is closing Olympia. Sad to be closing, naturally. But also deeply grateful to the members who have chosen to work out at Olympia over the years. So many stories, so many memories.

Thank you to everyone who has made the journey to Montague Street since 1991."

29,000 vehicles pass this site every day, according to a VicRoads traffic report. (source: Conquest)











11 August 2019

150 - 160 Turner St, Lorimer, Fishermans Bend

August 2019

The site has been cleared of all vehicles. Passion fruit vines have been planted along the fence, as well as some citrus trees. 

Something is afoot!


150 - 160 Turner St, August 2019

150 - 160 Turner St, August 2019

April 2019

The site is reported to have sold for between $8m, according to The Age (9 April), less than the $10m owners Gary Brill and John Ayres had been seeking a year ago. It was last sold in August 2001
for $1,050,000 (realestate.com.au)

A permit was granted for a 36 storey building in July 2016.

150 - 160 Turner St, May 2019

The 2,618 sq metre site was acquired for $1.05m from the state government in 2003.

July 2018

150 Lorimer St is for sale by Colliers with a permit for a 30 level building.


July 2016

A planning permit was issued for a 36 level building in July 2016.

Architects: Artisan Architects


11 October 2015

While the Minister for Planning is the Responsible Authority for this application in the Lorimer Precinct of Fishermans Bend, the City of Melbourne’s comments were sought

At its planning meeting on 6 October, the Council resolved to write to the Minister advising that they did not support the application for a 30 storey building on a number of grounds including that

  • a majority of apartments rely on borrowed light
  • there was insufficient setback from Turner St (which is proposed to be a linear parkway)

    Unprepossessing 150 Turner St
    • there were insufficient setbacks between podium and tower
    • there were unreasonable wind tunnel effects at ground level
    • it would exceed the density contemplated for Fishermans Bend in the Strategic Framework Plan, was distant from public transport, and would put strain on community services and facilities
    Source

    Report to the Future Melbourne (Planning) Meeting 6 October 2015

    02 August 2019

    161 Buckhurst St, South Melbourne

    January 2021

    The property is for sale.

    The property is for sale by ICR Property Group

    August 2019

    161 Buckhurst St will become Lenny. There will be only one apartment on each of the five levels.

    The property will be developed by Eton Property Group. Its attributes:

    "With a 94% Walkability Score rating, everything you need is within walking distance. Stroll to South Melbourne Market, Bay Street shopping precinct, and South Melbourne Primary School, so close to the city and sea by the nearby Montague station light rail."


    August 2019
    14 April 2019

    Since I last passed this way, the house has been demolished.

    The lilly pilly trees on the footpath are laden with fruit.

    April 2019

    28 March 2019

    The property deteriorates. The structure is revealed.




    March 2019 
    2 August 2017

    The City of Port Phillip has granted an extension to a permit originally granted in 2014.

    The application was first lodged in 2011 and originally proposed a four storey building.

    The Council argued the proposal would be an underdevelopment relative to planning guidelines at that time that recommended a five storey street wall and a maximum height of eight levels.

    The application was amended to increase the height to six levels, and a permit was duly issued (by the Minister) in January 2014.

    16 April 2017

    Looks like 161 Buckhurst is not going to be around for much longer.

    Read its planning history below.



    161 Buckhurst St is one of the few  (possibly the only) remaining double fronted house in Montague. It had a significant heritage grading.

    An application to demolish the house and construct a six level building was was lodged with the (then) Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) on 14th March, 2013 not long after the re-zoning of the area in 2012.

    The Port Phillip Council did not support the demolition of the building because it had a significant heritage grading and was not structurally unsound but the decision was not theirs to make.

    The application was approved by then Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy.

    Architects: Paul Delany

    171 - 183 Ferrars St, South Melbourne

    August 2019

    Demolition has begun to enable this new development. Industri, which has sustained the community on hospitality over many years, closed at the end of July and will move to the nearby Wayside Inn.



    August 2018

    171-183 Ferrars St, South Melbourne returned to the Port Phillip Council for consideration. The permit applicants have sought changes under Section 72 of the Planning and Environment Act.

    The changes include reducing the number of apartments, changing the dwelling mix to include more 3 bedroom apartments and deleting the bridge to connect the development to the City Road tram stop. The through block link from Ferrars St to Railway Place is retained.

    September 2016

    Marketing has begun for this 20 level development, Vivid 181. It emphasises the advantages of the location and the convenience of the public transport:
    'A beautifully designed Pedestrian Bridge connects Vivid 181 residents to what will feel like your personal Light Rail Station via a secure weather protected Arcade.'



    It is a project of Michael Emery and John Denton of Denton Corker Marshall.

    2 July 2015

    Planning Minister Richard Wynne has issued a permit MPA14/0004 for a revised scheme for this site.
    The project was reduced from 25 to 20 storeys, minimising overshadowing.
    • 98 apartments, 20 storey tower
    • Mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments
    • Development value: $30 million
    • Developer: One Eight One Pty Ltd
    • Architect: Denton Corker Marshall

    The proposal provides for a walkway through to the City Road tram stop. This was not supported by the City of Port Phillip.

    26 November 2014

    It would be hard to find a person who doesn’t think the renewal of Fishermans Bend and Montague is a good idea.

    Its how its done that is the question. And now it's being done. Applications are being considered according to the Strategic Framework Plan released in July by the Metropolitan Planning Authority. Applications are referred to the City of Port Phillip for comment – not decision.

    Fishermans Bend remains relatively unknown. With only a small residential population, the sense of fierce ownership of place is not as great as in more established suburbs.

    Heritage? Although it was the site of much of Victoria’s post war manufacturing, few traces of that industry remain. The buildings that house Montague’s small industries are not remarkable. Many of them are not that old.

    Creative industries moved from Port and South Melbourne to Montague where the rents were cheaper and began once again to transform the area with creative energy.

    173-181 Ferrars St, South Melbourne

    I went for a wander to get a feel for the place that is the site of the planning application for 173 – 181 Ferrars St.

    It’s very handy for South Melbourne Market. It’s literally on the City Road tram stop. It’s an easy walk or ride to the city or the bay. It’s easy to imagine walking through the site along the proposed link from Thistlethwaite St to access the light rail. Railway Place’s walls exhibit street art of wit and precision. The blue stone lane is full of the gritty urban character that people flock to see in Melbourne.


    The application had been referred to the Office of the Victorian Government Architect for comment. The framework plan’s guidance for this section of Montague is for a preferred height of 18 levels. The application was for 24 levels. In light of the discussion earlier this week about the OVGA, it is interesting to read that the design review panel said:

    ‘Without clear direction on the nature and extent of discretionary height decisions, the additional 5 storeys was supported on the basis that it created a more slender and elegant building.’ and
    ‘The question of how discretionary height limits will be applied needs to be addressed with consistency and an equitable approach’
    The City of Port Phillip assessed the application according to the Framework Plan and expects an application at the preferred maximum height of 18 storeys. What is the justification for the extra height? Is a ‘more slender and elegant’ building a sufficient reason to not observe the preferred maximum height?

    The application is unusual in that all apartments have adequate access to light and none rely on borrowed light. That should not be noteworthy. The environmental plan lacked ‘commitment’.

    The Council examines the nitty gritty detail of the application to anticipate the future life that will be led here. So important to get those details right, as overlooked details can return to haunt.

    High vehicles won’t be able to turn left

    Will those removal vans be able to fit under that 3.8 m bridge? How will the garbage trucks make their way onto City Road?

    Questions remain.

    Will the architects Denton Corker Marshall continue as architects right through the project?

    How will the building relate to the future school proposed on the corner of Ferrars and Douglas St?

    As the Fishermans Bent Network comment, assessing individual applications, even on their merits against the Framework plan, is not a sufficient pre-condition for a liveable precinct.

    Notes:

    City of Port Phillip 173-181 Ferrars Street, South Melbourne 18 November 2014

    534 Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne

    February 2021

    The renovation is well advanced.


    534 Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne February 2021

    The builder is Boyd Upstill.

    August 2019

    Is this the only pair of houses of this design in Port Melbourne? The houses are opposite the Port Melbourne Football Ground. 

    The planning application is for an upper level extension to the rear.

    534 Williamstown Rd, Port Melbourne August 2019

    December 2017