North Melbourne Residential Adaptive Reuse

THE CHALLENGE

Constructed in 1927 as a warehouse and showroom for Italian wine merchants Fabbri & Gardini, 47-51 Chetwynd Street is a two-storey landmark in North Melbourne. Featuring an Art Deco rendered primary elevation and utilitarian red-brick side walls, the building holds recognised local heritage significance. The property owner sought to give the building a new purpose by converting the upper floor into a residence, while maintaining an active commercial office and car parking on the ground level. Converting historic commercial buildings for modern living requires meeting residential standards for natural light, fresh air, and temperature control. Heritage planning protects the external character of historic streetscapes.

OUR APPROACH

Led by Founding Director Dr James Lesh, Heritage Workshop conducted a heritage evaluation and prepared a clear strategy to enable the residential adaption:

* Signage Restoration: Using 1927 archival drawings, we guided the accurate reinstatement of the original painted building name on the parapet pediment to restore historical symmetry.
* Window Reinstatement & Preservation: Historic window framing was reintroduced. Double-glazing upgrades were incorporated into the design to meet modern energy standards while keeping the historic visual appearance intact from the street.
* Colour Selection: We replaced the existing modern dark grey finish with a warm, historically grounded palette.
* Parking Allocation: Ground-floor layouts were configured to provide dedicated car spaces for both the residence and the office.

We prepared a robust Heritage Impact Statement, planning permit application, and responded to Council Request for Information (RFI) requests, in collaboration with the project team.

THE OUTCOME

Heritage Workshop provided the City of Melbourne with an evidence-backed heritage planning strategy that was fully supported and achieved fast-tracked planning approval.

The approved strategy allows the owner to create a modern, energy-efficient home inside a historic industrial building frame. By addressing windows and parking directly, the project avoided extended disputes or tribunal appeals, keeping timelines clear and achieving a strong heritage outcome.

(Figures courtesy of Graeme Butler and the State Library of Victoria.)