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Industry News, Latest News, Victoria

City of Melbourne considers heritage protection for Fishermans Bend

A Vegemite factory, an aircraft factory and the West Gate Bridge have been put forward for heritage protections in Melbourne’s Fishermans Bend.

A Vegemite factory, an aircraft factory and the West Gate Bridge have been put forward for heritage protections in Melbourne’s Fishermans Bend.

Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said City of Melbourne Councillors will consider a recommendation to nominate five sites for protection as the result of a review by an independent heritage expert.

“Fishermans Bend has been home to some of our most iconic industries and brands including Vegemite and General Motors Holden,” Reece said.

“By 2050, Fishermans Bend is expected to provide employment for up to 80,000 people.

“We want to create new jobs and communities in this urban renewal area while protecting the places and histories that make it unique.”

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The former Government Aircraft Factory (now owned by Boeing Aerostructures Australia) has been nominated as being of state significance for the role it played as one of only two aircraft assembly plants in Australia during World War Two. The other site in Mascot is already on the NSW state register.

With 40 per cent of the Boeing site already proposed for heritage listing, the protections are not expected to impact any of Boeing’s current operations.

Three other sites to be nominated are Shed 21, Electricity Substation and the Former Kraft Vegemite Factory.

Reece said the West Gate Bridge was also nominated as a site of state significance for its historic and social significance as well as the aesthetic and technical significance of the bridge’s design and construction.

“The Westgate Bridge was the site of an industrial accident that killed 35 workers more than 50 years ago and led to lasting workplace reforms. The bridge also opened up our city to the west,” he said.

Heritage portfolio lead Councillor Rohan Leppert said the City of Melbourne has undertaken a series of independent expert heritage reviews across the municipality to identify and protect our heritage.

“This is the most comprehensive study of industrial heritage we’ve ever undertaken. This is the industrial heartland of our city, a proud heritage that we don’t want to lose as Fishermans Bend undergoes renewal,” Leppert said.

“We’re stepping up protection for significant sites to provide certainty and clarity to landowners, established businesses and the community.”

Leppert said the nomination of the former Kraft Vegemite factory is an example of how we can protect the history of Fishermans Bend while the area grows and changes.

“In 1943 hundreds of women were recruited to work at a new vegetable dehydration factory in Port Melbourne as part of the war effort. In 1952 the site was expanded to include a ‘yeast factory’ that went on to become a household name and Vegemite is still being made at the factory today,” Leppert said.

“This site is emblematic of post-war food manufacturing plants that were constructed across Melbourne. It’s important to retain the area’s history and we will continue to do whatever we can to ensure Fishermans Bend retains its industrial spirit.”

City of Melbourne Councillors will consider seeking to implement the recommendations of the review through Planning Scheme Amendments C393 (interim heritage controls) and C394 (permanent controls). If the recommendations are endorsed, council management will submit nominations for the two state significant places to the Victorian Heritage Register.

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