Tania Martin
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges last month approved an application for the refurbishment of a hotel in Lilydale despite receiving several objections.
Nearby residents raised claimed the refurbishment works were not in line with the heritage value of the hotel.
Developer RC Ward has agreed to maintain the façade of the building.
The rear of the Dukes Saloon Hotel, between Hardy Street and Main Road, Lilydale, will be demolished and rebuilt.
The shire’s director of planning, building and health, James LamourReid, said the hotel was built in 1875 and was a double storey brick building with a single storey wing at the rear.
Mr LamourReid said the hotel was one of the oldest in the region and was originally built out of handmade bricks.
Council received six objections following the advertisement of the refurbishment plans.
Objector Michael Wilkinson said local residents raised concerns that the restoration of the facade might not be undertaken once the demolition and reconstruction of the rear had been completed.
Mr Wilkinson said plans for the restoration of the facade should be submitted prior to the council approving an application for the demolishment and restoration of the rear building.
“Otherwise I don’t believe the facade will be done,” he said.
Town planner Phillip Dalton, on behalf of the applicant, said the developer had agreed to complete the facade.
Mr Dalton said the plan was to demolish and rebuild the rear part of the hotel and then undertake the facade works.