Lovell Chen

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Developer Riverlee has achieved a major milestone at its $450 million Seafarers Place development on the Yarra's Northbank, with the restoration of the last-remaining original electric crane in Melbourne now complete. The restored crane forms a key pillar in Riverlee's plans for the mixed-use project which has been designed by architects Fender Katsalidis in tandem with landscape architects Oculus. 

With a construction start date of Q1 2020, Seafarers Place will upon completion, comprise 145 luxury residences, a 5-star hotel, a 1000-seat function centre set within the shell of the former Goods Shed No.5 and a 3,500 sqm public park.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/seafarers_place.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of Seafarers Place. Image: Riverlee"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="361" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/seafarers_place.jpg?itok=aDeFa6dv" title="Artist's impression of Seafarers Place. Image: Riverlee" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of Seafarers Place. Image: Riverlee</figcaption></figure>According to Riverlee, it's passion for successful urban renewal meant it was important that the mixed-use development was sympathetic to the wharf’s industrial past. As such, Riverlee undertook a collaborative process to restore the 1948 crane, which which was recognised in 2002 for its historical significance to Victoria, forming part of the most intact cargo berth in the Port of Melbourne from the pre-containerisation era.

The crane has been carefully restored by Maritime contractor Freyssinet working with Lovell Chen to ensure structural integrity. Detailed preservation methodology and processes were implemented to ensure that any repair works undertaken were well considered and provided optimum preservation outcome for the heritage crane. This was achieved with input from Riverlee, the City of Melbourne, Department of Planning, Department of Treasury and Finance and Heritage Victoria

Originally located on the west end of Goods Shed No. 5, Riverlee opted to relocate the restored crane to the eastern end to provide improved public access, and to integrate it with the proposed Seafarers Rest Park. 

The wharf, which dates back to the immediate post-war era, has also undergone significant refurbishment as part of the project, paving the way for construction to begin in earnest.

<h2>What they say...</h2>

<blockquote>
We are excited to bring the rich history of the site back to life as much as possible and in particular, the restoration of the crane was so important to both Riverlee and the various partners involved.

The crane demonstrates what a lively area the wharf once was in the mid-1900s, and alludes to a similar atmosphere that is about to come to the new Northbank precinct.

We look forward to continuing to tell the story of the site’s historical relevance and reference its history throughout our project.

- David Lee, Riverlee Development Director
</blockquote>
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Laurence Dragomir

Riverlee restores Melbourne's last remaining original electric crane

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The first steps have been taken in order to facilitate one of Melbourne's largest apartment developments. Guangzhou-based real estate giant R&amp;F Properties has initiated a permit application for the redevelopment of the Kinnears Footscray site (via their Australian subsidiary R &amp; F Estate Pty Ltd), with the intent of delivering multiple apartment towers.

Lodged during September, 124-188 Ballarat Road Footscray seeks both limited demolition and adaptation of existing heritage buildings spread over the site, with the earliest structures identified as dating back to 1909.

R&amp;F Properties purchased Kinnears Footscray last year for $60 million after fellow developer AXF Group chose to move the asset on. This follows a 2012 Maribyrnong City Council and Ministerial planning scheme amendment for the site, which essentially paved the way for a residential and mixed-use development of up to 1400 dwellings.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image7kinn.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Staging for the Kinnears redevelopment. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="374" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image7kinn.jpg?itok=knuEbk3V" title="Staging for the Kinnears redevelopment. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Staging for the Kinnears redevelopment. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>While all new builds onsite will be subject to building specific future planning applications, the current request if approved in its current form will essentially act as a masterplan by way of determining what can and cannot be demolished. Heritage consultancy Lovell Chen prepared a heritage impact statement as part of the submission, with excerpts below:

<blockquote>
The Kinnears Ropeworks site is included on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) and is designated as a heritage place (H2067). The complex is of historical, social, scientific (technological) and architectural significance to the state of Victoria and is a landmark in the local area and Melbourne’s western suburbs.

The current project proposes substantial development and urban renewal on the registered site.

From a heritage perspective, key actions include the retention, conservation and adaptation of a substantial complex of heritage buildings (the heritage core); and the retention of the distinct heritage street wall facades on Ballarat Road and Farnsworth Street and their incorporation into new build and the reinforcement of key internal laneways within the site.

Other buildings are proposed to be demolished and large areas of the site are to be redeveloped for residential use with some associated retail and community facilities.
<cite>Lovell Chen: Heritage impact statement</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image12kinn.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Concept image as seen from Ballarat Road. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="315" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image12kinn.jpg?itok=cEiRQbCc" title="Concept image as seen from Ballarat Road. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Concept image as seen from Ballarat Road. Image courtesy Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>Elenberg Fraser have been engaged by the developer and provided preliminary design input and imagery as part of the submission. The site staging plan calls for four development stages, each including the refurbishment of heritage buildings alongside the delivery of new residential buildings.

At least eight residential buildings are expected over the Kinnears site, ranging in height from five levels through to 18 levels with all new buildings set back from existing heritage facades. Tract Consultants have devised a preliminary landscape plan for the precinct which includes new access roads and a number of laneways and plazas, including the George Kinnear Plaza named after the founder of the business.

Owing to the size of the overall site, the intended development is expected to take over five years to deliver.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image20knn.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Old and new structures as envisaged by Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="232" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image20knn.jpg?itok=LPOYfnEN" title="Old and new structures as envisaged by Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Old and new structures as envisaged by Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>
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Lovell Chen

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