Art deco heritage pub to transform into hotel

An Art Deco heritage pub in Melbourne, will be the site of a new eight storey hotel which will provide short-term accommodation for nurses visiting Melbourne for conferences, training and meetings.

The Central Club Hotel on Victoria St was purchased by The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2017. The group plan to bring back the hotel’s former glory with an added eight storey residential hotel overlooking Queen Victoria Market, with 33 rooms, a rooftop terrace and garden.

Objectors to this project were concerned the excessive height of the development would overshadow The Queen Victoria Market and block views of neighbouring apartments. 

However the City of Melbourne has decided to grant a permit, with conditions, to keep the pub on the ground floor, partially demolish the existing building and retain the street facing heritage façade. 

“The existing Central Club Hotel building will be restored and refurbished to highlight and celebrate its heritage features,” a council report stated.

“The use of heritage paint colours and replacement of like for like window and door furnishings will create an attractive and appropriate street frontage along Victoria and O’Connell Streets.”

Levels two to seven will be one bedroom apartments available for short-term accommodation for rural and regional nurses visiting the city for workshops, seminars and conferences.

According to the council report, “The retention of the heritage building and the creation of a highly considered upper level facade creates a positive architectural addition to the changing public realm.” 

Irit Jackson, 5^th November 2020