Change brewing in Collingwood

Collingwood’s Yorkshire Brewery was once one of the tallest buildings in Melbourne.

But its glory days are long gone.

Demolition of the former brewery’s silos began last month.

The removal of the 19^th Century columns on Roberts Street in Collingwood is part of a re-development by architectural firm Hayball and builder SMA Projects.

The development will see some heritage-listed buildings on the site restored and integrated with a new 17-story apartment block.

Other structures, like the silos, have languished since the brewery closed in 1996 and cannot be saved.

The site has divided the City of Yarra Council, whose members voted against the development 5-4 in March only to be overruled by VCAT.

City of Yarra Mayor, Cr Jackie Fristacky, voted in favour of the proposal but said it has been a “sensitive” issue.

“It was difficult decision for councillors because there were residents in the building immediately adjacent who supported it,” Cr Fristacky said.

“Yet there were others vehemently opposed to it in terms of the height and the impact on the neighbourhood.”

Cr Fristacky commended SMA Projects for committing to restoring the now burnt out and graffiti-ridden brewery tower on the site.

But she said pressure to develop heritage-listed sites in inner Melbourne is mounting.

“Infrastructure and service provision by state and federal governments has been neglected in outer suburbs and growth areas,” she said.

“This is putting enormous pressure on Yarra, Melbourne, Port Phillip, Stonnington and inner parts of Brunswick and Darrebin, with especially huge pressure on heritage areas.”

Paul Beekham of the Yarra Heritage Advisory Committee and Melbourne Heritage Action group said the Yorkshire brewery development will have a significant effect on its surrounds.

“It’ll have a major impact on the sky line and there are questions about whether the brew tower will still be the dominant landmark and maintain its prominence,” said Mr Beekham.

Mr Beekham noted that the Melbourne Heritage Action group isn’t against transforming heritage space into new living areas.

“It is important to reuse old buildings in new and creative ways, and residential and apartment living is part of that,” Mr Beekham said.

“The question is at what point does the new use start to make the heritage value of the site lesser, or perhaps lose the heritage value entirely.”

SMA Projects Development Manager Rob Murphy believes the development will enhance the cultural capital of Roberts Street.

“By developing that site it’ll clean up that area which has long been a derelict site,” said Mr Murphy.

“People have had to live and work around the site in its current condition, but when it’s developed it will create a lot of benefits for the community.”

A gallery of Hayball’s plan for the Yorkshire Brewery site can be viewed here.

Despite the City of Yarra Council’s decision on the Yorkshire Brewery being overruled by VCAT, Cr Fristacky said people power can make a “genuine change” to heritage developments.

“There are a lot of examples of successful outcomes in relation to heritage driven by people. Saving the Abbottsford Convent has been a major one,” said Cr Fristacky.

In Melbourne’s CBD, music fans are hoping people power will be enough to keep the heritage-listed Palace Theatre intact.

Late last month Chinese property investment firm Jinshan Investments revealed plans for a 30-story luxury hotel on Bourke Street where the theatre currently stands.

A campaign Facebook page calling on the apartments to be saved has accumulated more than 28,000 “likes” within a couple of weeks.

Page creator Richard Stevens said he believes mobilising people can save the “vital venue”.

“We might not be able to stop what is happening, but come to more of a compromise where both sides get what they want,” said Mr Stevens.

“If the developers build around and on top and we can keep the live venue then we’ll be happy.”

What do you think of the treatment of Melbourne’s heritage buildings? Have your say below.