http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/irish ... 14nkz.html

Irish club planning to rise higher
Jason Dowling
September 2, 2010

THE 120-year old Celtic Club building on the corner of La Trobe and Queen streets in the city would be mostly demolished and replaced with a new club in a 40-storey-plus tower on the site in plans to be lodged with the Melbourne City Council within days.

The club would retain the first four floors of the development with remaining floors handed over to a developer for apartments on the 676 square-metre-site.

The current building, occupied by the club since 1959, does not have heritage protection and the site does not have a building height limit.

Celtic Club board member Francis Collins said the redevelopment was necessary to safeguard the future of Australia's oldest Irish club and an expression of interest would soon be released to market for the redevelopment.

The club has estimated a refurbishment of the current building could cost $4.8 million - which it cannot afford, and Mr Collins said members did not want to see the club of 800 members go the same way as the now defunct Naval and Military Club.

''The whole idea is to reinvigorate the club,'' he said. ''All clubs at the present time are struggling.''

He said club members supported the redevelopment and the facade of the current building would likely be retained.

''We've left it [the facade] in our plans; we certainly see it is of significance and we are happy to work around that,'' he said.

The redevelopment proposal includes a new cafe/bistro and entertainment area for club members and visitors and the retention of the club's Irish and Celtic culture and heritage.

Melbourne City Councillor and former Celtic Club president Brian Shanahan said he was ''generally supportive'' of the redevelopment plans.

Cr Shanahan, a life member of the club, said: ''The general proposal of using the air space to make the club viable I think is a good one.''

But not all have welcomed the proposal. Paul Roser, conservation manager with the National Trust, said the Celtic Club building should be heritage protected.

''We understand that clubs are struggling, the Naval and Military Club is gone and others are under pressure as well but we would have thought that a club that really trades on the heritage and culture of being Celtic and being Irish would have some sympathy for the building it has occupied for 50 years,'' he said.

Rupert Mann, from new CBD heritage protection group Melbourne Heritage Action, also attacked the plans.

''We are appalled at this crazy proposal for a 42-storey tower on the site of the Celtic Club, leaving only the facade. Melbourne's heritage buildings need to be protected, not destroyed. We urge the City of Melbourne to reject this plan in its entirety,'' he said.

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Guess this suggests we may be in need of a new home for a couple years in the future, as it seems only the facade of the building will only remain while the rest is demolished. It looks like it will go through council but the celtic club will remain at the site in the future. If we do move, don't let it be to the Charles Dickens Tavern, there are too many spuds there.

Let's take over Chelseas pub it stays open after the game, hate it how we all have to leave as soon as the game is over, even early games.
And it has pool tables

I'm sure we can find something in the interim. Any idea when this is supposed to take place? I wouldn't be averse to moving venues anyways. Celtic Club has hardly bent over backwards to accommodate us. Why do you think the Liverpool guys left? They got sick of being turfed out straight after games. And they have five times the numbers we do. I think it's time to have a sit-down with CC management and plan things for the coming season.

+1 on a new venue. I HATE the cc. Even when we have numbers they deem to be enough to stay open, as stated we are out before we can finish our celebratory beer... They don't grasp the concept of taking the good with the bad in terms to attendences, and are downright rude about it at times. I guess it's a big reason I have hardly been there the last couple seasons, I actually think I have seen more games at the dickins than cc in this time. Where is the Chelsea pub?

I don't mind the CC, think they look after us ok.

Fluid oz is really a backpacker and not the best place to watch football. If we are forced to move then the Turf bar could be an option, especially if the Chelsea lads want to go there as well

Turf Bar would be perfect.

Turf Bar sounds good

Here, here, CC sucks, 20+ rule is stupid, you don't know if the game is definitely showing or not and it doesnt apply if there are 60 people there when the game finishes at 11:30!!! You order a beer and then they tell you as you get your change you have to leave right now because they are closing!!!

Hi Gooners Idon't believe even if this development gets approved in its current form the changes will occur immediately, so plenty of time to consider our options.

BTW I did catch up w Kim (Mgr) about what happened after the last match and she told me that there was no policy requiring us to leave straight after games had finished. I let her know we were unhappy about it and about 20 of us had gone to another pub for a few drinks after the game to celebrate, especially as it was early. She was going to talk to the bouncers and the other staff and assured me it wouldn't be happening for future early games.

Anyway whilst I can't be there the match is being shown on Saturday night so hopefully we get a win and can celebrate.

I 'll speak to Kim re the development plans so we are kept informed of the changes and can plan ahead if need be. I don't know if the Chelsea lads would be too happy if we just walked in and took over their venue. I know I wouldn't be. The Turf bar would have to get bigger screens and be commited to showing games on a Saturday night with the sound up.

Hi Gooners

Spoken to management at CC and even if re-development plans are approved without any delays or changes they have been told nothing will be happening this season, so all concerns are a bit premature. Good news for now. Will keep you posted if there are any changes to the sitaution. Cheers, TK