Proposed Apple Store Location in Australia Gets Temporary Heritage Protection

[MacRumors]

Apple's plans for its first flagship store in Australia have been dealt another blow, with The Age reporting that the proposed location in Melbourne has won Heritage Protection status until late 2018.

The Victorian branch of Australia's National Trust is said to have nominated Federation Square for protection earlier this month, shortly after Apple submitted revised blueprints for the planned store on July 19.

Apple's revised Federation Square design​

The Heritage Protection status means no work on the square can take place until December 21, 2018 without explicit permission from the National Trust. With Apple not hoping to start construction until next year, the date on its own isn't a problem, but the move by Heritage Victoria suggests that permanent protection is the final goal.

The construction of the new store would require the demolition of the well-known Yarra building, which has infuriated Melbourne residents and led to major protests suggesting the public space should not be given over to a corporation.

In February, Melbourne's City Council backed a motion to lobby for a new store design, and Apple's revised plan was positively received by the Federation Square leadership, but it looks as if public community groups have yet to be convinced.

"The interim protection order allows us to take stock and think about what makes Fed Square truly special," said Citizens for Melbourne president Tania Davidge, speaking to The Age. "Hopefully, after eight months of discussion behind closed doors, Victorians will now have the opportunity to have a say about the future of their public, cultural and civic square."

Another view of the new design​

The city of Melbourne's Heritage portfolio chair Rohan Leppert said the public backlash to the proposed Apple store proved that Federation Square "is a site of state significance", and said he was glad that Heritage Victoria was taking the proposal to permanently protect Federation Square seriously.

"Heritage Victoria's decision to apply an IPO formalises these public heritage values and is very welcome, as is the exceptional leadership of the National Trust," he said.

Despite the square being granted temporary protection status, the state government is still siding with Apple on the issue. Responding to the news, tourism and major events minister John Eren said it would be "unprecedented" to heritage list a site that is only 16 years old.

"To do so could lead to significant implications for future projects," Eren told The Age. "This will not stop us delivering the Metro Tunnel and other vital projects that are good for Melbourne and good for jobs."

Article Link: Proposed Apple Store Location in Australia Gets Temporary Heritage Protection

 

[Pakaku]

City of Melbourne heritage portfolio chair Rohan Leppert said the public backlash to the proposed Apple store proved Federation Square "is a site of state significance", and said he was glad that Heritage Victoria was taking the proposal to permanently protect Federation Square seriously.

Sounds fair enough. It's just an Apple store, they can build it somewhere else.

 

[joelhinch]

Australian here. Would love for it to be revamped.

 

[Kabeyun]

The locals didn’t like it, the government heard them and hit pause, and Apple listened and revised the plan. Sounds like things are working well down there so far.

 

[anon08]

Pretty sure when fed square was first built it got an award for being ugly as.
Make up ya minds people

 

[steve62388]

Heritage for something that's only 16 years old?!? Sounds more like it's an anti-corporation move to me.

 

[Wanted797]

Welcome to Australia, where we complain our cities are dead, boring and old, but jump up and down as soon as someone dare suggest redeveloping anything.

 

[-BigMac-]

Melbournian here.

I sincerely apologize to Apple for all the bs that this situation is arising to.

Let Apple build their redesigned store in Fed Square. Theres a damn 7-11 there for goodness sake.

What a joke.

 

[Xenc]

The design concept is very impressive.

 

[Abstract]

Federation Square is a city square. It has significance because people loiter there. Locals? Maybe. Well, not really. A lot of tourists mixed with locals. If the Australian Open (tennis) is on, it’s packed. Festivals? Some of them take place there.

“Heritage” significance, though? That’s a laugh. The place didn’t even exist until 16 years ago, and people today still think it’s hideous. The ONLY reason the area, with its visually busy stone aesthetics and monolithic buildings, garish hobbled steps that people don’t even like sitting on, is because that space is what we have. That could have been said about ANYTHING that’s built there, and that includes a nice Apple Store, but people just like what they know, no matter how bad the current space is. Again, it’s what we have, and we do use it.

What’s there isn’t worth protecting. Same goes for that Terminal Bar or whatever it’s called. Yes, I’ve had a beer there a few times. It’s not a nice place, which is quite surprising because it faces the river and the balcony should be better designed to take advantage of that. Somehow, they messed it up.

Same goes for the other restaurants and bars in Federation Square. None of it is worth keeping untouched and unchanged.

 

[Kabeyun]

Heritage for something that's only 16 years old?!? Sounds more like it's an anti-corporation move to me.

Easy tigger. I get it, but it’s just a device to slow the process, and it ends later this year. Time for Apple to revise the plan according to the desires of those who live there. Or are you anti-People? They don’t actually intend to protect it against Evil Corporations, otherwise the status wouldn’t expire in 2018! I’m sure the store will happen. If you read the statements of officials, you would be too.

 

[fullauto]

Jesus Christ just let them build the fricking store, Fed Square is boring af!

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Money talks, as they say. I’m fairly certain that these Apple exec’s carry wads of brown paper envelopes with them.

 

[applepuree]

Maybe Apple should build in another town or city.Geelong or Frankston perhaps ?

 

[Finoton]

Maybe Apple should build in another town or city.Geelong or Frankston perhaps ?

It’s frustrating to have to go out to chaddy every time I want to go to an apple store, 1 building that is basically not even in fed square (the main part at least) is being demolished anyway, and apple wants to build something superior. Fed square is the most ugly part of the city, don’t let this set precedent.

 

[samh004]

Heritage for something that's only 16 years old?!? Sounds more like it's an anti-corporation move to me.

Theres a damn 7-11 there for goodness sake.

Exactly... every time this comes up I mention the bloody 7-11! I've even bought a myki there... yet no one cares they exist in the space.

I would have thought that having a store with an area for concerts out front would be exactly what people would want, as it'll bring people together.

 

[CarlJ]

Heritage for something that's only 16 years old?!? Sounds more like it's an anti-corporation move to me.

Eddie Izzard has a routine where he mocks America for having a plaque on a "historical" building saying it's been restored to the way it was "over 50 years ago!" Apparently Australia heard this and said, "hold my beer".

 

[first-to-tea]

Melbourne, Australia, here. These are the plain facts.

Federation Square was established as a public civic and cultural space with public funds. The precinct arrived in 2003 after an international design competition in 1996. The design, loved by some, and a little less by others, is an example of deconstructivist architecture.

Fed Square is frequented by locals and visitors in Australia and from overseas who explore the interesting spaces the design provides. There’s a mix of galleries, cultural institutions, cafes and restaurants. The public square offers unique free programming and events year round. The precinct is not a retail mall or shopping centre.

For more than 2 years Apple engaged in secret negotiations with local government to build a store in Melbourne. The local government offered Apple several alternative retail sites. These alternatives were not accepted by Apple. Plans were then announced last December to demolish parts of Federation Square to build an Apple store.

Apple has actively excluded local citizens. At no point did Apple consult the public before announcing plans. At no point since, 9 months on, has Apple engaged with the public. Apple has disrespected and ignored the very city that it wants to be part of.

The Apple store plans are strongly criticised for its LOCATION in addition to the criticisms around the design. Simply, the location of Apple’s planned store is not accepted. Apple has released two completely different designs, both equally criticised.

Petitions have recorded more than 100,000 signatures against the Apple store. A news poll and a public debate both found about 80% of people against plans. A campaign #OurCityOurSquare by volunteers was established to fight the Apple store. And if reactions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are anything to go by, opposition to the plans remains consistently strong.

Truth is that there are many other great retail locations for an Apple store in Melbourne. All Apple needs to do is commit to an open planning process, which Apple has refused to do to date, and be guided by the people of the city to find a suitable alternative location.

Apple’s store plan which demolishes Federation Square is simply perverse.

 

[NoBoMac]

Some one from Melbourne, please chime in on this.

From the first picture in the story, it appears that Apple wants to raze and build on the now closed ABBA World site (to us non-Melbourne-ites, yes, an interactive exhibit dedicated to the Swedish pop group)? Is this site an exhibit hall of some sort, or, was it truly built for ABBA? Is that space being used for something currently?

I understand that folks are not happy about Apple's secretive nature, but, getting the feeling that this site is nothing more than a government sponsored outdoor shopping and entertainment mall.

 

[first-to-tea]

Some one from Melbourne, please chime in on this.

From the first picture in the story, it appears that Apple wants to raze and build on the now closed ABBA World site (to us non-Melbourne-ites, yes, an interactive exhibit dedicated to the Swedish pop group)? Is this site an exhibit hall of some sort, or, was it truly built for ABBA? Is that space being used for something currently?

I understand that folks are not happy about Apple's secretive nature, but, getting the feeling that this site is nothing more than a government sponsored outdoor shopping and entertainment mall.

Apple has actively excluded local citizens. At no point did Apple consult the public before announcing plans. At no point since, 9 months on, has Apple engaged with the public. Apple has disrespected and ignored the very city that it wants to be part of.

The Apple store plans are strongly criticised for its LOCATION in addition to the criticisms around the design. Simply, the location of Apple’s planned store is not accepted. Apple has released two completely different designs, both equally criticised.

Apple wants to demolish the “Yarra Building”, which is a multipurpose facility that houses four tenants including an Aboriginal museum Koorie Heritage Trust, the Melbourne Festival, and two restaurants.

Apple’s offer to the city of Melbourne is to take away a unique mix of tenants, demolish the building, and replace it with a single brand focused retail store.

This video is a good look at what exactly Federation Square is about.

 

[-BigMac-]

Melbourne, Australia, here. These are the plain facts.

Federation Square was established as a public civic and cultural space with public funds. The precinct arrived in 2003 after an international design competition in 1996. The design, loved by some, and a little less by others, is an example of deconstructivist architecture.

Fed Square is frequented by locals and visitors in Australia and from overseas who explore the interesting spaces the design provides. There’s a mix of galleries, cultural institutions, cafes and restaurants. The public square offers unique free programming and events year round. The precinct is not a retail mall or shopping centre.

For more than 2 years Apple engaged in secret negotiations with local government to build a store in Melbourne. The local government offered Apple several alternative retail sites. These alternatives were not accepted by Apple. Plans were then announced last December to demolish parts of Federation Square to build an Apple store.

Apple has actively excluded local citizens. At no point did Apple consult the public before announcing plans. At no point since, 9 months on, has Apple engaged with the public. Apple has disrespected and ignored the very city that it wants to be part of.

The Apple store plans are strongly criticised for its LOCATION in addition to the criticisms around the design. Simply, the location of Apple’s planned store is not accepted. Apple has released two completely different designs, both equally criticised.

Petitions have recorded more than 100,000 signatures against the Apple store. A news poll and a public debate both found about 80% of people against plans. A campaign #OurCityOurSquare by volunteers was established to fight the Apple store. And if reactions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are anything to go by, opposition to the plans remains consistently strong.

Truth is that there are many other great retail locations for an Apple store in Melbourne. All Apple needs to do is commit to an open planning process, which Apple has refused to do to date, and be guided by the people of the city to find a suitable alternative location.

Apple’s store plan which demolishes Federation Square is simply perverse.

You didnt address the 7-11 which is taking up “valuable” Federation Square space. For what sort of cultural addition?

 

[-BigMac-]

Easy tigger. I get it, but it’s just a device to slow the process, and it ends later this year. Time for Apple to revise the plan according to the desires of those who live there. Or are you anti-People? They don’t actually intend to protect it against Evil Corporations, otherwise the status wouldn’t expire in 2018! I’m sure the store will happen. If you read the statements of officials, you would be too.

Says its a temporary one which is a stepping stone to a permanent one

 

[Kabeyun]

Says its a temporary one which is a stepping stone to a permanent one

Exactly. Unless it isn’t. Me? I think there’s already too much hair-trigger outrage in the world. I predict Melbourne will have it’s new Apple store and life will still be fine.

 

[TheFluffyDuck]

Australian here. Federation Square is an ugly useful space that shouldn't be heritage listed because it is younger than the iPod. An Apple store is greatly needed in Melbourne CBD. Build the damn thing already.

 

[iMacC2D]

You didnt address the 7-11 which is taking up “valuable” Federation Square space. For what sort of cultural addition?

I constantly hear this argument, but no matter how I approach it, it always feels like a massive stretch to compare a small retail store selling foods, snacks, drinks and public transport passes (which itself is a public service) to a large, multi-level consumer electronics retailer selling phones and laptops that would involve demolishing an entire existing building to fit.

They're both commercial businesses, but worlds apart in the service they offer to the community. After all, it stands to reason that someone passing through Fed Square may want to recharge their public transport pass, or grab a snack. It offers a service to the members of the public already using the square.

There's no reason someone casually passing through Fed Square would suddenly need a new phone, or tablet, or computer so quickly that they couldn't wander a few blocks over to a store placed within a dedicated dense-commercial zoned district. That's the problem. The Apple Store doesn't need to be there. It could be anywhere else. Apple wants it there because it serves well for their brand image.

But Apple's brand image shouldn't take precedence over the wishes of the people of Melbourne on how their public space is used. The people should be allowed to formally have a say in the matter, and from what I understand both the Andrews government and Apple have so far denied them their right to do so.

Hopefully Fed Square receives permanent heritage protection status, if only to enforce due process and consultation on what should and shouldn't be constructed there.

But @first-to-tea explained it better than I ever could, so anyone unaware of the situation should have a read of their post above.