Belgrave Group wins tender for Mt Hotham landmark site

The Victorian Government has selected developer Ben Genser’s Belgrave Group, from a shortlist which also included Rino Grollo, to develop what was marketed as “the most significant site ever offered in the Australian alps”.

The site of the Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board (MHARMB) office occupies a 1905 metre² plot acknowledged by the Victorian Government in its tender last year as “universally regarded as the best location in Mount Hotham”.

Elevated and abutting the Corall car park on its eastern boundary, the block at 28 Great Alpine Road is opposite Hotham Central, White Crystal Apartments and a short distance to the helipad and Road Runner chairlift.

Belgrave Group is now expected to develop a five-level mixed use building including a new MHARMB headquarters, offices for ski patrol services, a medical centre, retail, residential apartments and a hotel component.

With a speculated end value of more than $100 million, the proposed new complex is allowed to cover a high 1600 metre²  - or about 84%  - of the block.

Avid skier John Castran, Director of Melbourne agency Castran which has an alpine real estate division, marketed the block for the Victorian Government last year. He said the site was hotly contested before the government shortlisted three contenders in about October.

Also in the Mount Hotham region in recent months, a Singaporean group paid $4.8 million for a day spa at 125 Big Muster Drive, Dinner Plain, which upon the lease expiring will be converted into a cancer clinic/wellness centre.

Wyndham Vacation Resorts South Pacific has also recently made a major Dinner Plain acquisition, acquiring the Peppers Rundells Alpine Lodge. It has also paid varying prices ranging from $195,000 to $1.75 million to acquire another 36 chalets in the popular winter holiday area.

The Victorian Government’s shortlist of developers for the MHARMB site also included Hotham Heights ski business Hoys and Melbourne developer Rino Grollo, who mid-last year unveiled plans to build a luxury residential village, Whitehorse Towers, in another ski community, Mount Buller.

In 2015 the Ski Club of Victoria turned property developer at Mt Buller, unveiling plans to replace a central property with a four-level apartment and hospitality complex, The Whitt, for its members and guests. 

Image shows the MHARMB site.

23rd January 2017 - VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT TO REFORM MANAGEMENT OF VICTORIA’S ALPINE RESORTS

10th January 2017 - CSIRO MODELLING PREDICTS CLIMATE CHANGE COULD SHRINK AUSTRALIA’S SKI SEASON BY 80 DAYS

26th December 2016 - PARKS VICTORIA PLAN PROPOSES LUXURY ACCOMMODATION ON FALLS CREEK TO HOTHAM ALPINE CROSSING TRAIL

9th August 2013 - FRESH SNOW ALERT AT HOTHAM AND FALLS CREEK

31st May 2012 - MT BULLER READY FOR 2012 SKI SEASON