In 2003 we welcomed VCAT's confirmation of the cultural significance of the Espy. At the same time the heritage trade-off was a blow to planning in Port Phillip which aimed to achieve a better outcome—one embracing the culture of the Espy, reflecting diversity, the archetectual heritage of St Kilda, and providing excellent new architecture—not just playing them off against each other.
Three years on the future of the Espy is in the hands of Becton, the hotel's operators, and Council. It remains their collective responsibility to ensure that the terms of the deal guarantee the continuation of the Espy as a cutting-edge live music venue.
In June 2001, the Esplanade Hotel Foundation, submitted a tender bid for the Esplanade Hotel. In August of that year we were informed that the bid was unsuccessful.
The Espy is one of the most loved of St.Kilda's many hotels, it has played a big part in supporting the original live music scene in Melbourne. Not just a place to drink, the hotel forms a strong part of what makes St.Kilda so unique.
Built in 1878, the Esplanade Hotel is an excellent example of Victorian resort-hotel architecture. It was classified by the National Trust in October 1990.
Fearing the worst from Becton's proposal, Port Phillip Council, The Esplanade Alliance and the National Trust applied to the Heritage Council of Victoria to add the site to its state register to ensure the hotel's protection. Becton contested the listing and Heritage Victoria decreed the Espy a building of regional rather than state significance, declining to list it on the state register.
Becton decided in April/May 2001 to give up on it's plan to redevelop the hotel and tendered the Hotel section of the site for sale.
The Esplanade Alliance and The Esplanade Hotel Foundation were concerned with both the history and future of the hotel and the surrounding block which included Baymor Court, a Spanish mission style block of flats built in 1929 and ultimately demolished in November 2004.
When Becton finally submitted their planning application to the council for a new residential building next to our beloved Esplanade Hotel on November 13, 2002, the better part of a year after they said they would. Esplanade Alliance submitted this objection to the design. As has been our policy since the beginning, plans on any development that goes up on the St.Kilda Esplanade or foreshore must be aesthetically and architecturally sympathetic to the character and history of what has been a playground to the people of Victoria for over a century.
On 10 February 2003, the Port Phillip Council unanimously rejected Becton's application to redevelop the site, this led to a lengthy planning appeal. The City of Port Phillip's planning committee highlighted several problems with the proposal, most of which were outlined in our own objection, including demolition of heritage buildings, car parking and the potential threat to the hotel's viability and cultural significance as a live music venue.
Several members of the Esplanade Alliance gave clear, succinct and detailed objections that had the full attention of council and raised cheers amongst the 50 strong gallery in the council chambers.
David Brand—then St.Kilda ward councillor and member of The Esplanade Alliance—gave an inspiring speech that really summed up how we felt at that time. We hoped Becton would rethink the design and take on all valid criticisms as The Esplanade Alliance would have supported any development sensitive to both the heritage and future of the Hotel and the foreshore.
This webpage is maintained by Cyndy Vogelsang on behalf of the Esplanade Alliance