Challengers to Smith St demolition say 'hands off our history'

The growing campaign against a development that would demolish half a Smith Street block is now being challenged on heritage grounds. Report by Ben Schneiders in The Melbourne Times [9 June 2004].

By Ben Schneiders

THE growing campaign against a development that would demolish half a Smith Street block is now being challenged on heritage grounds.

Dominik Kucera from the Collingwood Action Group (CAG) said buildings at both ends of the proposed development at 132-170 Smith Street were of heritage significance.
"It has got some very significant buildings of prime importance going back to the Victorian period and the 1920s," he said.

The proposed multi-tower development includes 245 apartments and a supermarket.
Yarra Council received what is believed to be a record level of objections to the proposal, with 1300 official objections and a 500-strong petition.

Mr Kucera said investigations revealed "probable heritage gems", including 132 Smith Street, which now houses Mountain Designs.

It is also believed that a disused pedestrian tunnel runs underneath Smith Street and Mountain Designs.

"We understand it's intact, it's a prime heritage feature in terms of shopping in Victorian (era) Melbourne."

A 1920s Coles store building is also earmarked for demolition.

"It is a really salvageable 1920s Melbourne shopping pre-art deco building," Mr Kucera said. "These buildings have definite heritage potential, they are probably restorable."

The CAG claims contradict a report by the developers Banco that said there was no heritage value on the site.

Heritage Victoria is also getting involved. A spokeswoman confirmed that it is preparing a report on the proposed development for Yarra Council.

Mr Kucera called on the council to delay any plans to demolish the site.

"We would hope the council would not issue any demolition permit until a thorough heritage survey was done on all the buildings," he said.