Twenty years ago, St Kilda’s historic Beaconsfield Hotel closed following the shocking death of former star cricketer David Hookes, and the subsequent backlash from the public.
Now, owner Geoffrey Ogden, who runs several Western Australia venues with his family, has been given approval from Port Philip Council to reopen – despite concerns from the local community.
The proposal to reopen received only one letter of support amid 186 community objections, with locals concerned about an increase in traffic, noise and anti-social behaviour.
However, Mayor Louise Crawford pointed out that while she was aware of the concerns, other local venues successfully coexisted in residential areas.
While the initial application intended to include plans to operate until 1am, seven days a week for up to 590 people, a compromised was reached with a reduced maximum capacity of 400 people, with the bar closing at 11:30pm Fridays and Saturdays, and the closure of the outside courtyard set to 10pm during summer, and 9pm the rest of the year.
The venue will be permitted to serve food.
The proposal was passed with a final amendment stipulating that there would be no rubbish collection on Saturday mornings, to reduce noise.
Rod Hardy, Councillor for the ward in which the hotel lies, believed the conditions would adequately limit the impact on residents.
“The hours of operation have been reduced … the patron numbers have also been reduced. The acoustic barrier noise wall is to be erected, and the restoration repairs and external painting of the building give us an opportunity to bring a fading heritage building back to life,” he told The Age.
Following the closure of the pub in 2004, a portion of the building served as a residence. In the mid-2000s, plans were briefly considered to turn the site into apartments, but the building was instead partially boarded up.
Hotelier Ella Ogden emphasised to the council chamber how passionate her family was to preserve and celebrate the 143-year-old heritage building, explaining that the project reflected their “deep commitment” to both the local area and the hotel’s cultural identity.
