SAVE WILLIAMSTOWN
The Former Oriental Hotel Building
started as Benjamin Skelton’s dwelling in c.1850
A Pre-Separation Early Victorian Regency Building and Unique in the State
SAVE WILLIAMSTOWN
The Former Oriental Hotel Building
started as Benjamin Skelton’s dwelling in c.1850
A Pre-Separation Early Victorian Regency Building and Unique in the State
Documents supporting the heritage of the Oriental and considered by Executive Director Heritage Victoria:
✦Initial Application July 2013 Nomination Oriental Hotel
✦Heritage Report 2012 Alves council hertiage report Oriental Hotel.pdf
✦Supplementary Information about STATE significance October 2013 Oriental Hotel further Information
✦Brian Haynes report Full History of the Oriental Hotel
✦Appendices to Supplementary Information Appendices to HV nomination
✦Structural report for reconstruction methods February 2014 Condition report by Klopfer Dobos
Save Williamstown Detailed Submission on the 7th July 2014 with research references can be viewed here
Hobsons Bay Council supported protecting the Oriental
Original and Supplementary nomination documents supplied to Heritage Victoria for Victorian Heritage Register
Link to Heritage Victoria Executive Director Recommendation
The link to the Heritage Victoria Executive Director Recommendation is no longer live on the government website - direct download of report HERE
VCAT Decision ignored application to Heritage Victoria for listing The Oriental on the State Register and sanctioned demolition
All Save Williamstown nomination and submission documents can be viewed below PLUS for the latest detailed submission 7 July 2014 Click here
The Presentation by Save Williamstown at the hearing 4-5 August 2014 as a slide show is available here
Although the panel members of the VHC, the Executive Director HV and HBC Structural Engineers had not been given access to the building in July 2014 Heritage Adviser (expert fro the Developer) has entered the building and taken photographs of its current state. These photos show interesting features which indicate the very early origins and show: convict bricks (Figure 8); the original flat roof structure remaining under the pitch roof (Figure 21); the narrow staircase not typical of a hotel (Figures 11 & 17); the fancy architraves of the residential rooms on the 1st Floor (Figures 13 & 14) and the construction beams which are present on all three levels and a method not seen in any other buildings by Peter Lovell (Figure 23). See this document Lovell photos.pdf as presented to VHC hearing in August.
The Nomination by Save Williamstown could not have been completed
without the valuable research by Brian Haynes.
Local Historian Brian Haynes research reveals an interesting and
significant history of the old hotel known as the Oriental Building on the
corner of Ann St and Nelson Place.
Support Save Williamstown by
Donating $40 a month or a one off donation via Paypal
DEVELOPERS MUST RESPECT THE CHARACTER OF OUR HISTORIC CITY
WE MUST HAVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN PLANNING....
The cultural and historical significance of Williamstown should not be underestimated, it starts long before the settlement of 1835 with the people of the Kulin Nations inhabiting the Point Gellibrand Peninsula for many centuries. The new arrivals of 1835 came from Tasmania by sea and chose the sheltered natural harbour to land and build their town, King William’s Town, later becoming Williamstown. Many early public buildings and homes still grace the town and the maritime and shipbuilding industries still remain after nearly two centuries.