Clarendon Street, South Melbourne

Client: Bagios Holdings Pty Ltd
Project type: Hospitality & tourism (food & beverage, hotel, pub)
Stakeholders: City of Port Phillip, local community
Value: $6 million

Images courtesy of coppersmithhotel.com.au

The project
For over 150 years, The Cricket Club Hotel sat on the corner of Clarendon and Thomson Streets in South Melbourne – a historic pub that served generations of Melbourne locals. This all changed in 2006, when the building was purchased by Perth-based hotelier, George Bagios, who’d earmarked it as the site for a future operation.

Over the next few years, plans came together to transform the old pub into a contemporary gastropub, bar and bistro, with boutique accommodation above. UPco was engaged to provide advice and assistance throughout this evolution.

The challenge

Designed by HASSELL, plans for the new building featured a refurbished ground and first floor, and an additional second floor with rooftop terrace. Given its rich history, these works needed to factor in heritage considerations, as well as the input of Council and local residents.

The outcome

Working closely with all stakeholders, UPco prepared, lodged and managed the planning approvals process, successfully obtaining planning permission for the project. We also negotiated a positive outcome with the council and residents, following a dispute made to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal over the roof deck aspect of the project.

Re-opened in 2014 as Coppersmith, the new building exudes a sense of history, while offering a very modern place to eat, drink, stay and play.