A luminous light installation at the old Warburton Sanitarium factory is on display until March 2026.
Warburton Advancement League (WAL) vice president David Pratt said the display gives the old building a face lift and cleverly avoids requiring a new permit while the Edgewater project awaits approvals.
“What we’re trying to do is simply create an artistic installation to benefit the Warburton community, locals and tourists, to give it a point of difference that our small community can have,” Mr Pratt said.
The dazzling display sees the building’s otherwise boring brick facade awash with vibrant colours and pretty patterns and will be on every night.
Unlike signage and images, which are permit triggers, lighting is not, and therefore means WAL can host the light display without requiring a new permit.
“It’s done in such a way that doesn’t compromise any of the heritage requirements because it’s only lighting, there’s no physical attachments to any heritage aspect of the building.”
WAL committee member Leo Gester supplied the lighting equipment and lead the artistic direction of the display, while David Hockley from Millgrove business Phazed Electrics connected the equipment to the power supply.
“Leo supplied the artistic expertise which made it so spectacular… and Dave did all of the hard work hooking it up to the power supply,” Mr Pratt said.
Mr Gester also supplies the lighting for Millgrove Resident Action Group’s famous Millgrove Light Trail.
The WAL committee then got approval from the Warburton Sanitarium owner Garry Crockett, who was “thrilled” at the idea.
“While we’re going through our permit processes with the State Government, which is taking an extraordinarily long amount of time… lighting the building up like this is a positive, especially as we move into the nicer weather, we can do this for our tourist period,” Mr Pratt said.
Mr Pratt said Mr Crockett would cover the electricity costs “comfortably” while the WAL self-funded the installation of the equipment.
The Crockett group acquired the building in 1997 following the factory’s closure, having made Weet Bix at the factory since 1925.
A plan to create the $50 million Edgewater Spa and Resort in 2005, was never able to proceed due to a number of regulations, lapsed permits and the global financial crisis.
An estimated $8 million has been spent on planning and repairs due to vandalism since the project started 20 years ago.
In August 2022 after discussions with Mr Crockett, Yarra Ranges Council, WAL and local contractors conducted make safe works at the site, securing the building and conducting a variety of maintenance works.
Now, Mr Pratt said they were awaiting a final approval from the State Government.
“So DEECA (Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action) executives have to approve and ratify what the recommendation of the Upper Yarra River Reserves Committee is.
“Once that ratification is done, then we can lodge the planning permit or the program to start.”
In the meantime, the goal is to make sure the building isn’t an eyesore any longer.
“This lighting display was an ability to not just simply keep saying we’re waiting on the planning permit, but to do something physical, artistic, that showcased the facade of the building, but in a less fortress-like way.”
