The facade of the White Dog Hotel in Lilydale is continuing to fall apart, with more damage visible to the front of the building since the issue was raised in July.
Also known as The Lilydale Hotel or Duke’s Saloon over the years, the formerly popular pub has fallen into disrepair over the years despite community support for its restoration.
Friends of The White Dog Facebook group founder Rob Hall recently posted fresh pictures of the damage and said it’s hard to take a picture of The White Dog at any angle and not be left thinking that it doesn’t look good.
“I am very concerned about the future of The White Dog and the speed at which the whole front is degrading,” he said.
“I feel demolition by neglect is pretty much on track and with no repercussions from the Council other than platitudes, if she goes down, it happened on their watch,” he said.
“There might not be any jackhammers, bulldozers or wrecking balls, but demolition by neglect achieves the same results just a lot slower.”
Decaying wood and cracking brick are all visible from the front of the old watering hole, which is fenced off . Perhaps most concerning is the visible bending on the second floor, leading to concerns for collapse.
Mr Hall brought the issue to the council in July this year, but the council’s ability to enforce compliance with heritage laws is limited, and council officers are not permitted to discuss or disclose individual cases and actions that have been taken”.
The council put forward an updated statement of significance for the White Dog Hotel in 2022, alongside a number of heritage overlay amendments, which sought to amend the outdated statement and make suggestions on conservation measures like the restoration or replacement of original elements of the building.
Approval for the amendment was granted by the planning minister and came into effect on 5 June this year, the date the notice was published in the Victorian Government Gazette.
Yarra Ranges Council has two avenues to enforce private owners to act on dilapidated buildings or neglect of buildings, as confirmed in 2022 after a community question.
The first of those being the use of a building emergency order “when there are life, health or safety issues such as structural concerns or where the building is being accessed or occupied by squatters or rough sleepers.”
Under this, the council can evict the occupants and instruct the owner to complete ‘make safe’ works.
The second option would be to issue a ‘notice of comply’ under the Yarra Ranges Neighbourhood Amenity Local Law 2020, sections 12.6 unsightly land and 12.7 dilapidated buildings.
If owners do not comply with the notice given, financial penalties can apply.
To read more about the history of the hotel, visit: lilydale.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2021/06/08/see-you-at-the-white-dog/.
To find out more about the ongoing push to protect and restore the pub, read: lilydale.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2021/06/16/whats-to-become-of-the-white-dog/
