New life for old Beeches

By TANIA MARTIN
DANDENONG Ranges Tourism Board manager Michael Axel has hailed the $6 million refurbishment of the Burnham Beeches Estate, in Sherbrooke, as “the reinstatement of an iconic tourist destination”.
Mr Axel said it was brilliant news, and that Burnham Beeches was almost the standout conventiontype centre in the area.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges last week approved an application for the refurbishment, which will result in the former 1930s estate being restored to its former glory.
It was built by Alfred Nicholas who, with his brother George, developed the Aspro company.
The shire’s director of planning building and health, James LamourReid, said the estate had not been occupied or used since 1992, with the exception of the ongoing garden maintenance by fulltime caretakers.
Mr LamourReid said the main building had fallen into disrepair and that it would require substantial restoration work to reinstate it as a top tourist hotel.
Once restored, the Burnham Beeches Estate will feature 65 guest rooms, a licensed restaurant, bar, lounge and meeting and function rooms, kitchen and food preparation areas, and 240 parking spaces.
Four massage and treatment areas and an indoor swimming pool, sauna, spa and gymnasium area will also be refurbished.
The developer, Burnham Beeches Retirement Village, originally planned to use the estate as a retirement village but, after consultation with the council, didn’t pursue that plan.
Although council has approved the refurbishment, the developer must get approval from Heritage Victoria, because a building on the estate was heritage listed.
Mr LamourReid said the estate was a significant example of a retreat built with the tradition of a colonial hill station.
He said it was recognised as one of the finest examples in Victoria of the art deco mansion.
Trevor Ludamen, planning consultant for the Project Planning Company, expected the refurbishment would take 12 months to complete.
Mr Ludamen said the developer was in the process of preparing a conservation management plan to submit to Heritage Victoria.
Mr LamourReid said the Burnham Beeches site was an important feature of the shire, and that a fivestar hotel there would contribute to a substantial increase in tourists and visitors.
Mr Axel agreed, saying the refurbishment of Burnham Beeches would be a tremendous addition to the Dandenong Ranges tourism industry.