East Melbourne development approved despite heritage overlay

A new residential development in East Melbourne is expected to be given the green light by the City of Melbourne, despite its location within a heritage overlay.

At the Future Melbourne Committee (FMC) meeting on June 3, which took place after the June edition of Inner City News published, council management recommended issuing a permit for the proposal by the Abadeen Group to redevelop a heritage-listed site encompassing 29 Simpson St, 19–27 Simpson St, and 86–92 Wellington Parade in East Melbourne. The project will transform the site into nine three-storey townhouses.

The site was formerly home to private hospitals throughout the 20th century and was originally the palatial home of timber merchant David Blair in the late 1800s.

At an FMC meeting on July 11 in 2023, the council approved the original development plans, which included partial demolition and the construction of three dwellings across a trio of three-storey buildings with a basement. That approval also allowed for the removal of existing easements.

However, a revised application was brought before the FMC at its meeting on June 3, 2025. The proposed amendment seeks to increase the number of dwellings from three to nine, and includes further demolition and development at 19–27 Simpson St, expansion of development at 29 Simpson St, and the relocation of vehicle access to George St.

In its report to councillors, council management stated that the proposal delivers “an appropriate heritage outcome through full retention of the principal part of the existing dwelling at 19–27 Simpson St and the significant setback of the new works from the front of the dwelling.”

The report also confirmed that the proposed amendment was consistent with the relevant provisions of the Melbourne Planning Scheme. There was only one objection to the proposal. •