Save Lonsdale House!
The developer, Colonial, has requested permission from the minister for planning to remove the heritage overlay which would allow complete demolition of one of Victoria’s most significant Art Deco heritage buildings, Lonsdale House. Melbourne risks going down the path Sydney has adopted in the past of sacrificing culturally significant buildings to the developers and leaving the city with no soul. Despite appeals by the National Trust and the Art Deco Society, Heritage Victoria has sternly refused to protect this significant building and the Lonsdale Street and Caledonian Lane streetscapes for future generations. **** UPDATE **** On January 15th 2010 demolition of Lonsdale House had commenced. A sad day for Melbourne and for Art Deco heritage in general.