The Borough of Queenscliffe is undertaking the Hesse Street Commercial Precinct Review (the Review) to protect and enhance the unique heritage values of the Hesse Street commercial area.

The Draft Review is on public exhibition from Friday 19 June, and will close at 4:30pm on Monday 20 July, 2026.

The Draft Review includes:

• An updated heritage citation and new statement of significance for the Precinct.
• Updated heritage citations for three individual places: Bay View (HO28, 27 & 27A Hesse St), Vue Grand Hotel complex (including the former ballroom and stables) (HO29, 46-48 Hesse St & 23 Learmonth Street; HO37, 13 Hobson St) and Oceania (HO107, 61 Hesse St).
• Recommendations for updates to the local heritage policy and Heritage Design Guidelines for the Precinct to provide improved guidance on the assessment of development applications.
• Recommendations to update the heritage overlay to remove duplication, remove redundant controls and correct errors.

Written submissions can be made to info@queenscliffe.vic.gov.au, or by post to 50 Learmonth Street, Queenscliff VIC 3225.

Submissions close at 4:30 pm on Monday 20 July, 2026.

Why is heritage important?

Heritage places are important for enriching our lives and our communities. Buildings, areas, landscapes, and other places of heritage value provide a window to the past and to the origins

of our communities in the post-contact era. Heritage places also add character, appeal and interest to our cities, towns, and countryside. They are irreplaceable and precious.

Queenscliff is an unusually intact example of a Victorian-era seaside resort and fishing town. These two aspects continue to be clearly demonstrated through its layout and surviving fabric. The Borough’s heritage places are a key factor in attracting visitors and growing the tourism industry, which is vital is to the local economy. They provide a reference for people to appreciate the social and cultural history of the local area, and the role of Queenscliff in the broader history of the region and State.

Why is Council carrying out the Review?

In October 2021 Council adopted a broad review of heritage controls referred to as the Borough of Queenscliffe Planning Scheme Review. Following this, Council determined to undertake a peer review on a precinct-by-precinct basis in Queenscliff to identify necessary changes and updates to protect the heritage character and significance of the Borough.

The first precinct to be reviewed was Heritage Overlay, Schedule 1 Fisherman’s Flat Urban Conservation Precinct (HO1). This was implemented with the subsequent approval of Amendment C40 in June 2025.

Council identified that the next precinct to be reviewed is the Heritage Overlay, Schedule 7 Hesse Street Commercial Precinct (HO7) (the Precinct).

What does the draft Review include?

• An updated heritage citation and new statement of significance for the Precinct.
• Updated heritage citations for three individual places: Bay View (HO28, 27 & 27A Hesse St), Vue Grand Hotel complex (including the former ballroom and stables) (HO29, 46-48 Hesse St & 23 Learmonth Street; HO37, 13 Hobson St) and Oceania (HO107, 61 Hesse St).
• Recommendations for updates to the local heritage policy and Heritage Design Guidelines for the Precinct to provide improved guidance on the assessment of development applications.
• Recommendations to update the heritage overlay to remove duplication, remove redundant controls and correct errors.

Will the current heritage controls that apply to my property change?

For the majority of properties within the Precinct the current heritage overlay controls will remain the same. Specific controls that are redundant or not required will be removed from some of the 13 places that currently have an individual heritage overlay, which are proposed to be transferred to the Precinct heritage overlay.

No new properties will be added to the heritage overlay.

Will I be able to have my say if it is proposed to change current heritage controls for my property?

Yes. The recommendations of the draft Review will need to be considered first by Council who must decide whether to proceed, which would require an amendment to the Queenscliffe Planning Scheme to change any heritage controls.

The planning scheme amendment process will provide the opportunity for all affected landowners or occupiers to make a formal submission to Council about the proposed heritage controls. This may result in an independent panel hearing process if Council and the landowner, or the occupier, do not agree about the heritage controls being proposed over the site.

Until this happens, the current HO controls that apply to your property will not change.

What happens next?

The draft Review is available for public review and comment until 4:30 pm on Monday 20 July, 2026.

Following the draft Review public exhibition, all submissions will be considered, and the draft Review will be updated as required.

The final Review will then be presented to Council.