Dimmey’s Swan Street bid for heritage protection
Spotted on realestatesource.com.au, usually pretty reliable with the insider tip-offs, there is a nomination pending for Dimmey’s at 140 Swan Street Richmond (actually Cremorne) to be added to the Victorian Heritage Register.
The aim would be to protect the landmark clock tower and its distinctive ball of the 1890s department store from inappropriate development.
The article seems pretty optimisting about the building being listed, however from what I’ve seen lately of the Heritage Council - don’t hold your breath. If there is a proposal for a 20 storey glass box, they’re just as likely to support it being knocked down and nominate it for its “stunning contemporary design”. Such is the zeitgeist.
Apparently it has to do with the structure of Heritage Victoria - all final decisions go before ‘one boss in charge’, rather than a democratic (and fairer) system of voting within a group of experts within.
Rumour has it that the newest boss is terribly un-motivated, and sees the job of writing response letters as a ‘big’ job, this is how it was said by those closest.