The recently approved apartment conversion and large-scale additions to the historic
Equity Chambers building (1931) in Bourke Street highlights the poor heritage processes and decision-making prevalent in the Melbourne’s central business district.
As a building individually protected with a Heritage Overlay under the Melbourne Planning Scheme, the proposal for six apartment floors on the roof should not have been approved by the City of Melbourne council with such a small setback (angling from 4 to 7 metres). Previously 10 metres was the acceptable norm.
Indeed adding so many floors to a listed building has not previously occurred (although there are unlisted heritage buildings with similar additions).
Since the City of Melbourne hasn’t listed a single interior, there was concern about the fate of the Equity Chambers’ ornate lobby, chamber, lifts (all of which will fortunately be retained) and particularly the offices themselves, which were purpose-built as barristers’ chambers.
A nomination to Heritage Victoria was launched in the hope that the State’s premier heritage body would enforce a better result. But, while the listing was successful, Heritage Victoria did not make any changes to the design, and so the offices will be lost, and the six floors on top will be constructed, as proposed.
The only enforced change is that an interpretive display must now be installed explaining the significance of the soon-to-be demolished barristers’ chambers.
More detailed pictures of the proposal are available here.
I am appalled at what is tantamount to the destruction of Equity Chambers. These historic chambers should be preserved as part of Melbourne’s rich and vibrant history.
This government is destroying the very reason why people visit Melbourne. Now the Windsor Hotel area is to be destroyed through greed. Amazing about the Windsor, makes one wonder how the boutique hotels and Ritz’s of the world survive?
Why must our heritage buildings be tampered with. The Equity Chambers is a superb building in its own right and doesn’t need any “enhancement” or addition of modern glass monstrosity. Surely Melbourne has more than enough recent building development standing empty and available for rent/lease without having to destroy yet more of our history. Leave our heritage alone.
The Equity Chambers building is a fine example of Melbourne’s heritage. The so-called Paris end has been largely destroyed and now the est of the CBD is under threat. Tower after tower, with no long-lasting merit.
The heritage and the streetscape are to be destroyed. And now the Windsor despite the sham “consultation” being exposed.