The North Melbourne Heritage Review was commissioned by the City of Melbourne in 2019. The independent Review was undertaken by Lovell Chen Heritage Consultants and is the first comprehensive review of North Melbourne since the 1980s. The Review looked at a range of architectural styles from the 19th and 20th century and researched in detail the history of the buildings, streets and parks of North Melbourne. Project officers conducted extensive in-person and online engagement at the commencement of the project in 2019. Explore the digital mapping tool created through the online engagement for the project.

The review looked at all places within the study area and also made changes to the North & West Melbourne Precinct Heritage Overlay HO3 boundary and Statement of Significance. The study area and HO3 are depicted in the map below.

Land affected by the amendment (shown in grey shading), North Melbourne Heritage Review study area (shown in dashed outline)
Land affected by the amendment (shown in grey shading), North Melbourne Heritage Review study area (shown in dashed outline)

​Read the North Melbourne Heritage Review

Based on the findings of the Review, we are seeking to implement the following recommendations through Amendment C403:

  • Four new individual Heritage Overlays.
  • Heritage category changes for 119 places. A heritage category identifies whether a place is non-contributory, contributory or significant to a precinct or individually significant.
  • Revised boundary and Statement of Significance for the existing North & West Melbourne Heritage Precinct HO3.
  • Delete Heritage Overlays HO284 and HO953 and apply HO3 to some of those affected properties.
  • A new Thematic Environmental History that documents historical themes and how the area has developed over time.
  • Fix-ups to addresses, descriptions and mapping.

The exhibition documents for Amendment C403 are provided within the document library below and include:

  • Explanatory report and table attachment (lists properties and proposed changes).
  • Planning Scheme Amendment maps.
  • Proposed changes to the planning scheme.
  • Incorporated documents to the planning scheme – including individual Statements of Significance for each individually significant place and each precinct.
  • Reference documents to the planning scheme – including the North Melbourne Heritage Review.

Amendment C403 implements the recommendations of the North Melbourne Heritage Review (July 2022) on a permanent basis. The independent review looked at all places within the study area and recommended heritage protection for four new individually significant places in addition to approximately 120 heritage category changes. The amendment also makes changes to the North & West Melbourne Precinct Heritage Overlay HO3 boundary and Statement of Significance.

Amendment C402 seeks to apply protection through interim controls to approximately 110 properties which are recommended to have their level of protection increased on an interim basis.

A thematic history which incorporates North Melbourne’s historical themes was developed in consultation with Traditional Owners.

A Heritage Overlay on your property will mean that, in most instances, you will need a planning permit from Council to subdivide the land, construct a building, carry out alterations or erect a sign.

Council officers will need to consider the heritage significance of your property before making a decision on a planning permit application, which seeks to modify the appearance of your property.

A planning permit is not required for repairs or routine maintenance that do not change the appearance of the heritage place or for internal alterations, unless the interior is deemed significant.

The City of Melbourne a has range of support materials available to people who live in, or work with, heritage places, including the Heritage Owners Guide and the Heritage Design Guide.

Panel hearing

Panel Directions and timetable

The Amendment C403 Panel hearing was held on Wednesday 26 April 2023 in the Hearing Room 2, Ground Floor, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne. There was also the option of joining via Microsoft Teams video conference.

Panel documents

Council submission:

Part A attachments: Attachment 1: PPF Translations:

Part A attachments: Attachment 2: Authorisation Documentation:

    Part A attachments: Attachment 3:

    Part A attachments: Attachment 4:

    Part A attachments: Attachment 5:

      Part A attachments: Attachment 6: Word Versions of Updated Documents:

      Expert witness statements

      Exhibition documents

      Letter of Authorisation May 2022

      Letter of Conditional Authorisation Exhibition
      PDF (228.98 KB) | Listen

      Notice of Preparation of an Amendment

      Notice of Preparation of an Amendment Exhibition
      PDF (228.74 KB) | Listen
      Notice of Preparation of an Amendment Exhibition – accessible version
      MS Word (241.50 KB) | Listen

      Please note: The amendment was endorsed by the Future Melbourne Committee on 12 April 2022 and subsequently conditionally authorised by the Minister for Planning for exhibition. Changes made to the Melbourne Planning Scheme since 3 August 2022 are not reflected in the exhibition documents of this amendment and are available at Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

      Amendment C403