A historically significant Portarlington church would be moved and turned into a café under a new housing development project before the City of Greater Geelong.
Planning documents lodged with the City of Greater Geelong have revealed the $10.5 million plan to build a three-storey block of 29 apartments on Harding Street, near the town’s main street.
The site is currently home to the St Patrick’s Catholic Hall, which would be relocated to a “more prominent corner location” and rotated to “celebrate the heritage of the site”, planning permit application documents said.
The documents also said the heritage building was “proposed to be refurbished and reused for the purpose of a café for the enjoyment of the community”.
The current St Patrick’s Catholic Hall was built in 1942 and is listed on the Victorian Heritage Database as being of “historic and social significance to the local Portarlington community”.
The building became a hall when a new church building was built in 1966.
Along with the café, the block will also host a bakery and a restaurant, with a residential apartment building “behind the commercial component”.
Plans indicate the apartment building will include four one-bedroom apartments, 23 two-bedroom apartments and two three-bedroom apartments.
The $10.5 million project will also have two levels of underground car parking spaces.
Developer Human Habitats said the residential complex was “needed in this location, given the dominant existing dwelling type being predominantly detached single dwellings”.
“The proposed venues will provide a vibrant hospitality business for use by future residents, as well as the wider Portarlington community,” planning documents said.
“Additionally the proposed commercial uses will provide valuable employment opportunities within the township.
“The proposed development will contribute positively to the streetscape and activate the corner of Harding Street and Fenwick Street.”
The planning application is open for public comment until March 31.
