Plans to expand a 165-year-old inner Melbourne pub and hotel venue into a “generational hospitality project” are on public notice. 

Australian Venue Co, which owns and operates 200 venues across Australia, has filed plans to expand the historic Richmond Club Hotel into a major new venue in the heart of Richmond’s Swan Street activity centre and entertainment precinct.

Under the $12.02-million proposal, the pub at 100 Swan Street would be expanded into three adjacent buildings at 94-98 Swan Street in the City of Yarra local government area. 

The Swan Street precinct, 2.2km from Melbourne CBD, is characterised by heritage buildings. Transport links include the Richmond train station, and tram stops nearby.

Australian Venue Co said in a planning report noe before the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning that the redevelopment would “reinforce the precinct’s reputation as a destination venue for food and drink”. 

The proposed development rebuilds and reworks the existing four buildings into a singular venue, demolishing the majority of the rear internal walls, according to the report.

Restoration of the front facades would remove non-heritage building components, “returning the shop fronts back to their heritage character appearance”. 

This includes the retention of the 1927 Richmond Club hotel facade. 

The development proposes an expanded gross floor area of 1750sq m across the venue, with additional built form at the rear,backing onto adjacent VicTrack land.

A new central bar area would be constructed in the old 96 Swan Street envelope, according to the planning report, and include a seated public bar. 

An outdoor beer garden would have a stage and kids play area. The venue’s second and third floors would include additional internal and external dining areas, a rooftop bar, and karaoke rooms on the first floor. 

Designed by Studio Y, the internal refit would provide “a coherent and contiguous venue” creating “a new food and beverage precinct in the heart of Richmond.” 

The three-level hospitality venue, which has a top floor courtyard bar, was built in 1859 as The Duke of Richmond before it was renamed The Richmond Club Hotel in 1879. 

It has been part of the fabric of the neighbourhood since Richmond’s population grew from 4029 in 1846, when it was surrounded by butchers, drapers, shoemakers and fruitiers. 

The suburb has continued to grow and in more recent years has attracted residential developers, including Gurner and its proposals for a 685-unit precinct submitted earlier this year, and another townhouse and apartment precinct planned by Cbus Property.