FORMER VICTORIA BREWERY

388-442 VICTORIA PARADE AND 187-225 POWLETT STREET AND 148-200 ALBERT STREET EAST MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

FORMER VICTORIA BREWERY SOHE 2008

Statement of Significance

• Other Records For This Place
  • Former Victoria Brewery - National Trust
• Additional Place Information

  • History

    FORMER VICTORIA BREWERY - History

    CONTEXTUAL HISTORY
    IThe Victoria Brewery was founded in 1854 on its present site by Thomas Aitken, a Scottish brewer, who was involved with the development of this historic industrial complex until his death in 1884. Although, so far as can be determined, no brewing structures have survived on this site from the earliest pre-1880s period. A brewing tower built c.1882 was probably designed by the architect George Wharton, who also in 1887 designed the Aitken residence at 203 Victoria Parade (now demolished).
    From 1884 to the period of the 1914-18 War, the Victoria Brewery was a leader in the technological and scientific revolution in Australian brewing. A number of distinctive brewing buildings survive at the brewery from this period, the most notable being the Lager Beer Cellars with their unusual castellated style designed in 1895 by the architect William Pitt. He was advised by the American-German brewing expert, Augustus J. Metzler.
    In 1906-7 the Victoria was one of the six major Melbourne breweries which amalgamated to form the Carlton and United Breweries Ltd. This was followed by further development of the complex along its Victoria Parade, Powlett and Albert Street frontages. The Bitter Ale and Vacuum Cellars were constructed in 1908 in Victoria Parade and Powlett Street.
    From the 1920s to the 1940s new buildings were added, many designed by the C.U.B. Company architect T.Weaver. In every case the castellated style was repeated along the perimeter.
    The Victoria stopped brewing bulk beer in June, 1954, and from this date building operations on the site virtually ceased. The complex, which was sold early in 1985, is the longest surviving brewery site in the state, and still contains its 1880s brewing tower (with an 1950s refurbishment), and many distinctive elements from the most significant periods in its development, including the 1895 Lager Beer Cellars.
    (AHC Backlog Study)
    Associated People: George Wharton; architect
    Thomas Aitken; brewer
    Augustus J. Metzler; brewer

    Permit Exemptions

    FORMER VICTORIA BREWERY - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

    Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

    Specific Exemptions:

    The Former Victoria Brewery contains both "Heritage Infrastructure" and "Non-Heritage Infrastructure". This permit exemption policy relates to both types of infrastructure and must be read in full.
     

    1. Permit Exempt Works Related To Heritage Infrastructure
    
    

    A Covenant was entered into on 9 November 2004 which is recorded against all titles that form part of the Former Victoria Brewery. It is a requirement of the Covenant that all future works to the Heritage Infrastructure at the site be undertaken in accordance with the Heritage Act 1995 and in particular with the Management Plan forming part of the Covenant.
     

    All works undertaken to the Heritage Infrastructure in accordance with the Management Plan are permit exempt works pursuant to Section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995. The Management Plan defines the Heritage Infrastructure and the ongoing obligations required to manage and maintain the Heritage Infrastructure. 
    
    

    It is a requirement of the Covenant that a copy of the Management Plan be supplied to all owners of land at the site. An original copy of both the Covenant and the Management Plan are held by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria. Electronic copies of both documents are recorded in the Heritage Victoria data base (HERMES).
    
    

    Permit Exempt Works Related to Non-Heritage Infrastructure
    
    

     All internal or external works to Non-Heritage Infrastructure at the Former Victoria Brewery that will not result in a negative visual impact or cause structural damage to the Heritage Infrastructure are permit exempt works, pursuant to Section 66 of the Heritage Act 1995. 
    
    

     Examples of works to Non-Heritage Infrastructure at the site considered as having the potential to result in a negative visual impact or cause structural damage to the Heritage Infrastructure, and would require a permit include:
     

    i. the proposed construction of additional storeys to any part of the site;
    
    

    ii. sub-surface works that may cause structural damage to Heritage Infrastructure, such as the perimeter walls;
     

    iii. the application of colours to structures (such as walls, gutters, roofs, window sills) that are unsympathetic to associated Heritage Infrastructure. 
     

    Where doubt exists whether proposed works may result in a negative visual impact or cause structural damage to the Heritage Infrastructure, clarification from the Executive Director as to whether a permit is required should be obtained prior to the works being commenced. 
    
    

     

    
    

     

    
    

    Permit Exemption Policy

    FORMER VICTORIA BREWERY - Permit Exemption Policy

    
    

     

    
    

     
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