State Government reviews $14m proposal for 12-storey office tower in Central Geelong

PLANS have been lodged for a 12-storey mixed-use development at the historic Star Hotel site located at 81 Myers St, Geelong CBD.

The $14 million proposal, submitted by HR Investments Aus Pty Ltd, if approved by the state government, will restore what was once a notable mid-19th-century hotel in the heart of the city and construct a new small footprint tower behind on the existing carpark.

Positioned on the intersection of Myers and Star streets and directly opposite St John of God Hospital, the site currently houses Dorevitch Pathology.

 

In preserving the city’s heritage, plans include refurbishing the original hotel structure for a new retail space, while the existing rear extension constructed in the 1980s is set for demolition.

The development will provide much needed office space in the medical precinct.

The proposed office space, spanning nearly 1800sq metres, will be erected at the back of the block, with the main entrance from Star St opening into a glass atrium.

The tower’s stunning design boasts tactile and angular textures that reflect varying sun angles and seasonal shifts inspired by the natural landscape of the region.

OCD design studio designer Matt Drysdale drew inspiration for the tower from surf coast geology, coastal formations and a Banksia’s seed pods.

“Our vision for this project starts at respecting and reflecting the landscape and context surrounding Geelong,” Drysdale said.

Drysdale relocated from Tasmania to Geelong in 2000 to study Architecture at Deakin University and has a long and passionate connection with the region.

“The design vision responds to the many natural landscape features, the unique colours and tones and the eclectic architectural language of the city and region,” he said.

While the current hotel has only minor heritage controls, the project team decided early on to retain and conserve the entire building.

“The design team and heritage Architects have worked towards delivering a design proposal that retains and re-purposes the existing heritage listed Star Hotel in a respectful and complimentary manner,” Mr Drysdale said.

In 2023, the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme was amended to provide an improvement to the public realm spaces in Geelong and to offer increased guidance under the Central Geelong Framework Plan.

“This project has allowed us an opportunity to work within the recently updated framework plan to deliver improved public realm outcomes that will be beneficial to the community of Geelong and the future of the city,” Mr Drysdale said.