What will become of the Victoria Barracks? Communities have their say

Community groups are concerned about the planned sale of Victoria Barracks in Melbourne (pictured) and Sydney. (ABC News) Defence Department officials are undertaking nationwide community consultation on the sale of dozens of military sites. The public is calling for inner-city properties such as Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to be used for schools and affordable housing. More than 100 submissions have been made to a Senate inquiry, with a series of public hearings taking place this month. Link copiedShareShare articleThe federal government is being urged to prioritise long-term public interest as it prepares to sell dozens of Defence Department properties across the country. There has been a strong reaction from veteran, housing, heritage and community organisations since the announcement of the major defence divestment plan in February. Of the 67 sites being sold off to generate an estimated $3 billion for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the historic Victoria Barracks in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne are drawing the most attention. Victoria Barracks Sydney is still used for military events and sporting matches. (AAP: Damian Shaw) Some local MPs and organisations including the National Trust of Australia are campaigning for the vast, metropolitan sites to remain under Commonwealth ownership. Others are calling on the government to use the "once in a generation" opportunity to do something "visionary" that blends heritage and public space to serve the broader community. With defence representatives touring the country to discuss the estate overhaul, the burning question coming from the public is: what happens next? Will their concerns be addressed and what happens once the prime real estate is forever in private hands? The tone of the room was clear when a question yelled from the crowd at a packed community event in Melbourne was met with a round of applause. More than a dozen Defence sites across the state will be divested to raise tens of millions of dollars, but question marks remain over what will take their place. "Why is the government divesting itself of this national treasure?" a woman asked Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil. The Southbank local was referring to Victoria Barracks on St Kilda Road. The largely heritage site spans 5.7 hectares on the fringe of the CBD's arts precinct, just a stone's throw from the National Gallery of Victoria. Its signature vine-covered bluestone buildings date back to the 1850s and were once used to host war cabinet meetings during World War II. Melbourne's Victoria Barracks is located in the city's cultural hub, close to the National Gallery and the Royal Botanic Gardens. (ABC News Graphics) Mr Khalil fronted a room of more than 100 community members who came to have their say about the fate of the historic site. "Let's shove some of the criticism to the side," he said. "We're undertaking engagements with community, council and historical organisations. Victoria Barracks Melbourne's heritage bluestone building covered in ivy. (Flickr: Rexness, CC BY-SA 2.0) In all, 16 sites across Victoria will be sold, including the birthplace of the RAAF at Point Cook. Mr Khalil said he understood there was a "strong emotional connection" to sites such as Victoria Barracks. But he insisted the sale would enhance public access to the gated property, which in recent years has been mostly used as a defence administrative centre. "We are not going to bulldoze those heritage locations," he said. A recurring question raised by communities has been whether sites would be prioritised for affordable housing. There has also been a push from Southbank residents and local MPs to use land at the barracks to build a government school for "the suburb's growing family population". Mr Khalil said there could be "commercial and community possibilities" for the sites, adding he was speaking with local governments, councils and stakeholders. The earliest bluestone buildings at Victoria Barracks Melbourne date back to the 1850s. (State Library Victoria) A community event is planned for Thursday night for Sydney locals to discuss the fate of Victoria Barracks on Oxford Street. Opposition is growing to the federal government's plan to sell scores of defence properties to reduce maintenance and repair costs, as locals fight back. Occupying 15 hectares on the ridgeline of Paddington, the site dates back to the 1840s. There has been significant pushback to the sale, with several online petitions circulating opposing the plan. Former prime minister Paul Keating, state Labor MP Marjorie O'Neill and independent Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich are among the vocal critics. "Victoria Barracks Sydney must remain in the care of the Australian people," Dr O'Neill said. Sydney's Victoria Barracks in an inner-city precinct surrounded by major stadiums, parks and universities. (ABC News Graphics) A City of Sydney survey conducted late last year f

What will become of the Victoria Barracks? Communities have their say

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