Trust urges return of original lacework to Queenscliff guesthouse

THE National Trust is seeking an explanation from the Borough of Queenscliffe after waiting four years for a feature of a heritage-listed house to be fully restored.

Lacework at 59 Hesse Street, formerly known as the Olinda House guesthouse, was removed in 2022.

The cast-iron decorative feature on the upper storey of the building dates from 1906 and was supposed to be restored and replaced, but the section installed so far is not the original lacework nor a recast of the design.

The Geelong and region branch of the National Trust has lodged three complaints about the issue and is urging the borough to take action to protect Queenscliff’s heritage character.

But according to the borough, the original lacework is damaged beyond repair and the borough’s support of the new lacework was “due to a misunderstanding”.

Hugh Jeffreys, a member of the Trust’s Queenscliff committee, said the replacement lacework appeared to be aluminium, not cast iron.

“We’re wondering what happened – [the lacework] was temporarily removed and and now it’s gone, so there’s some explanation that needs to be done,” he said.

“We have a unique area in Queenscliff with the coastal setting and the heritage in it. It’s what separates us from places like Lorne and Apollo Bay and wherever else tourists might frequent.

“It would be a shame to not have all of the right lacework go back up onto it.”

Jeffreys claimed there was no planning permits to either remove the original lacework or install the new lacework, and the borough should more strictly enforce the heritage overlay on Queenscliff’s buildings.

“What’s the point of a heritage overlay if you can remove an original feature without a permit?” he said.

“It’s been almost four years and the council told us we should anticipate seeing it all go back to how it how it was, but unfortunately it’s not happening like that at the moment.”

A borough spokesperson said the borough approved the fretwork’s removal from 59 Hesse Street in 2019 on the condition it would be replaced like-for-like.

“In 2022, the council followed up when the fretwork had not been reinstated and was advised it had been damaged beyond reuse. The council provided guidance on repair and replacement options,” the spokesperson said.

“In 2024, replacement fretwork was installed. Due to a misunderstanding, officers supported the installation in good faith, believing it matched the original.”

The spokesperson said the borough had advised the owner of 59 Hesse Street to lodge a permit application to enable retrospective assessment of the installed fretwork and any further proposed works.

Olinda House was built in 1906 by Herbert and Nell Thompson.