23 December 2021

I shouldn’t be surprised but I am – a proposal to plonk a second tower behind Harry Seidler’s 1988 #ShellBuilding; I’m not a huge huge fan but I defend it’s right to exist unmolested, especially since it’s on the VHR, and the only justification is the not really supported assertion that the income would be ‘critical’ to future maintenance of the exiting tower (!) It would demolish the auditorium and the curved corridor, rear plaza and its landscaping and the upper rear plaza too, with its signature curved edge, not to mention hiding forever the rear of the tower, just as sculptural as the front. And also looming over Milton House. Just say no ! (submissions due by 5pm, oops late as usual). First photo mine, 2013, most of the rest from the planning reports.

Update Jan 2022: Heritage Victoria said no, but then the Minister for Planning Richard Wynn ‘called it in’, which means he’s going to decide, which does not bode well.

Feb 2023: revised plans were lodged (which I havnt seen) but the City of Melbourne, which they sort of supported, but only if a heritage permit was issued (which the Minister will do in this case in any event).

Update Dec 2023: still no decision.

Update 11 July 2024 : Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny said yes. Just found this image which is shows the revised design with more room above Milton House.

Some Instagram comments from 2024 :

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