By Renée E. Gatt*
THE Mornington Peninsula boasts a scant number of historic buildings, remnants from the early days of our towns. These structures laid the foundation for the vibrant communities we cherish today. Yet, their survival is under constant threat.
Over my 25 years on the peninsula, I’ve actively championed the preservation of our architectural heritage—landmarks that not only define our local identity but also attract tourists eager to experience our unique history. Alarmingly, these irreplaceable assets are vanishing.
Both residential and commercial heritage structures are succumbing to lucrative financial offers and unchecked greed. Their cultural and historical significance is often deemed secondary to the profits reaped from their demolition. The practice of ‘facadism’—retaining only a building’s façade while gutting its essence—is a superficial nod to preservation, leaving hollow shells where rich histories once thrived. Regardless this practice too often, and most always sees the façade left to deteriorate until it is deemed unsafe and subsequently demolished. It is common practice and we recently lost yet another of these on Davey Street Frankston, near the intersection of Nepean Highway. A two-story exquisite piece of architectural history, returned to rubble to make way for the development it has been crumbling to be replaced by. Unacceptable.
Period homes—Edwardian, Victorian, Art Deco—are reduced to ruins or deliberately neglected, left to deteriorate until they’re deemed unsalvageable. This tactic, known as ‘demolition by neglect,’ has been identified as a critical issue by heritage organisations.
In February, we lost another local icon on Main Street, Mornington. This building, once celebrated with informative signage boasting information, a photograph and even a QR code detailing its storied past, was mindlessly destroyed to make way for what will be a three-story mixed-use development. This is not preservation; this is erasure.
The adjoined buildings and their separate businesses have housed various restaurants and retailers over the years, from the loved Kazu Japanese Restaurant, The Backyard Bar, a ladies fashion store, and more. Places of local gathering with families and friends, of recreation, celebration and purchase. As the weeks have progressed, with no attempt to protect what remains, the leftover single façade with exposed guttered exterior, has begun to fall into disrepair, at a staggering rate. Will we also lose this mere fragment of a reminder of our heritage past? If we are to rely on this ongoing lack of protection of our historical morphology, realised in past decades; it’s all but assured.
I, along with countless locals and visitors, have cherished moments within the walls of these historic structures. The abrupt shift from recognition to demolition is a betrayal of our community’s trust and heritage. How can we, in good conscience, tout our historical landmarks one moment and discard them the next? Once they’re gone, we can’t bring them back.
Integrity, respect, and accountability is required from our local council and VCAT. Our heritage is not just a backdrop for development—it’s the soul of our community. One moment celebrated—the next, destroyed. Enough is enough.
- Renée E. Gatt is a Mornington resident with a background in architecture and interior design.
First published in the Mornington News – 1 July 2025
