Luxury hotel plans for troubled Burnham Beeches

The new owners of Burnham Beeches in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges have released plans for a luxury hotel, restaurant, wellness retreat and glamping.

The redevelopment would cost $100 million, with the accommodation managed by international luxury hotel operator Six Senses.

Accommodation would include 43 rooms in the 1933-built Alfred Nicholas mansion. Glamping tents, dubbed the Hilltop Retreat, will also be in temporary service.

Trennery Consortium, which purchased Burnham Beeches from former Vue de Monde owner Shannon Bennett, believe glamping can make the accommodation arm of the business viable in a "non-intrusive" way to the surrounding environment – a sticking point in any development plans.

Bennett and business partner Adam Garrison owned the property for 12 years but struggled to turn it into a drinking and dining destination. They sold the property to Trennery with a planning permit for a hotel, restaurant, staff accommodation and brewery with dining attached.

The Alfred Nichols mansion is heritage protected and redevelopment requires approval by Heritage Victoria.

Trennery Consortium’s plans for Burnham Beeches include a restaurant, wellness retreat, pool house, restaurant and library.

The group will also create aVillage Square featuring a café, restaurant, dining hall, event spaces, brewery, and providore.

Plans will be presented to the local community on 14 November.

The venue has had nine owners in 30 years.

"The design... will be influenced by Burnham Beeches' historical, social and ecological traits and patterns, as well as respond to feedback from the local community," Principal architect at Woods Bagot, Bronwyn McColl, said.

The venue is expected to be open at the end of 2023, with the Village Square to open mid-2025.

Jonathan Jackson - 14-11-22