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Albert Park residents may appeal against rumoured site for The Block 2014

The Block producers pay $5.9m for an Albert Park factory but local residents may appeal plans.

2013-08-03_2316The Block producers Watercress have paid $5.9 million for Dux House, a 1176 square metre factory at 47 O’Grady Street, Albert Park ahead of a new 2014 series.

Fairfax reports tradespeople are currently re-fitting the factory to allow contestants to start renovating the space into four large dwellings over four levels. The site has recently been used for commercial purpose.

But local residents, many who wanted the former church converted into one dwelling, are planning another appeal with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Port Phillip Council had also previously opposed a permit on the grounds of height, density and appearance, claiming it “represented a significant and unacceptable visual intrusion into the surrounding historic neighbourhood”.

Local neighbour complaints are nothing new to The Block, stemming all the way back to the first season in Bondi 2003. But Watercress also have strong ties with the local council, with two successful renovations in its municipality and the current mayor having attended and endorsed The Block: Skyhigh.

A Nine publicist said, “At this stage we are not releasing any details regarding the location for the next series of The Block except to say it will return in 2014″.

The O’Grady Street site is located in a tree-lined heritage street near St. Vincent’s Gardens, less than two kilometres south-west of the CBD, walking distance to Albert Park Lake, the beach and Bridport Street shopping village.

Filming is expected to begin later this year.

7 Responses

  1. The location on the corner of O’Grady and Merton Streets was part of an old church site. Around 1906, the church relocated to opposite the Middle Park Primary School (Presbyterian Church archives). The Crean family were connected with this church. In 1983 after a fire that church was demolished (plaque in current park). Houses and the Dux Theatre, around 1914, were built on the church’s pre 1906 site. Originally a silent film theatre, the Dux apparently did not have success with talking movies and the building became used for other purposes including a props store. (Cinema and Theatre Historical Society sources).

  2. This site was a Presbyterian church in 1895, and became the Dux Theatre in 1912. In around 1939 it was captioned as “a silent movie house.” It later became under management by Hoyts, and became a warehouse after WWII.
    It’s also in a Heritage Zone HO3, it’s also had lots of objections to its development and has been approved for development with VCAT. Previous plans were for 6 apartments over 4 stories. Hopefully it’s only 4 over three levels- but whom knows.. Guess 4 competitors wouldn’t be as good as 6??

  3. @ Mxxdude and Sammee. I was thinking that it also applies to drama. Brisbane could be used for a modern contemporary drama. Have only seen the GC used in The Strip and Cairns region for Sea Patrol and Reef Doctors.

  4. Used to drive past that building a lot, had no idea it used to be a church, would have been a hideous one at that. Hopefully they do a lot to the exterior.

  5. Looking forward ti this already. Would be great if they cam to Brisbane for a season. There are plenty of inner city sites available for conversion.

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