Historical Melbourne hotel to be restored and redeveloped
Plans to restore and redevelop Charles Hotham Hotel have been lodged with the City of Melbourne, with a proposal for a 17-storey tower to be built above it.
Shesh Ghale and his wife Jamuna want to update the hotel that was built in 1912 and transform it into a 76.6 metre high “post-pandemic hotel’’ complete with a rooftop bar and garden and outdoor terrace on the 11th storey.
The $48 million plans include restoration of the heritage building and a tower constructed above the four-storey hotel.
The development would include 150 hotel rooms, basement bar, underground wine bar, external courtyard, restaurant, shops and co-working spaces.
The Charles Hotham Hotel was placed on the Victorian Heritage Inventory.
It could possibly contain historical archaeological remains related to the settlement and growth of Melbourne in its founding years.
According to Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece it had “long been an eyesore in one of the most prominent locations in our city”.
This grand 1912 hotel has fallen into a significant state of disrepair and is in desperate need of a facelift,” he said.
“It’s exciting to see a proposal to transform this heritage site into a hotel, with plans to retain and refurbish substantial parts of the heritage fabric.’’
Council received a report saying, “a uniquely local ‘Melbourne’ hotel” would be built on the site, “celebrating the historic past of this building”.
The report also stated plans for the site with 40m of frontage to Flinders St and around 21m to Spencer St would “revitalise the historic building through a respectful yet bold addition which presents considered setbacks.’’
Irit Jackson, 16th November 2021
