Wallcliffe House Development Application
We are delighted to announce the development application (DA) for Wallcliffe House has been lodged with the Augusta-Margaret River Shire Council.
Today is the beginning of the public consultation period for the DA. You may see advertisements published in the Augusta-Margaret River Times in the coming days.
We welcome members of the community to join us at one of two public drop-in sessions where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and understand the DA. Members of the Wallcliffe House team will be available to discuss topics such as the owners’ vision for the site, updated drawings and site plans, as well as key considerations for environmental management, heritage and landscape design.
Venue: Margaret River Heart, 47 Wallcliffe Rd, Margaret River
Wednesday, December 6th, 4 pm – 6.30 pm
Thursday, December 7, 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
There is no requirement to register and you are welcome to pop in at any point during the advertised times. If you are unable to attend the sessions, you can send us any questions you have through our Contact Us page. You can also find the full DA on the Shire’s website until Friday, December 21st.
Please read on below for a short project update.
It is now almost 160 years since the original Wallcliffe House was created, with the newer buildings added in the 21st Century. After the devastating loss of the buildings to fire in 2011, we now have the chance to write a new chapter for this deeply storied property.
Therefore, this project feels like both a re-birth and a continuation of the life of this house. The legacy of the original house and all its previous owners will be a springboard for this next chapter in its history, where new memories and a new legacy will be created. And we hope it will endure beyond the next 160 years, into a time that we can imagine, even though we cannot experience it ourselves.
What do we hope to create for the new Wallcliffe House?
The overall vision for Wallcliffe House has not changed. Our aim is to build a low-key, yet luxury, boutique hotel, where guests will enjoy the experience of being in one of Margaret River’s most significant locations, an experience that is supplemented by dining, wellness, and other curated offerings that will immerse guests in the wonder and beauty of the Margaret River region.
The most significant change in the DA is an overall reduction in the scope of the hotel to just 25 keys, down from the original proposal of up to 40 keys. The change means a reduction in the number of people (both guests and staff) on the site, reduced vehicle movements, and a generally quieter and more discreet accommodation offering.
Further, in order to reduce the pressure of volumes of people on the site and its surrounds, the hotel amenities, such as restaurant and spa, are not currently planned to be available to the general public without an accommodation booking. However, it is the intention to hold periodic special events that would open Wallcliffe House to the general public, including around the launch of the hotel.
As we have been from the beginning, we remain highly aware and respectful of the property’s Indigenous and European heritage, historical architecture, landscape, and environmental values, which include the surrounding areas and, of course, the river.
We are also deeply committed to the Margaret River region and its extraordinary attributes – forest, surf, salt and sand, exquisite wine and food, artists and makers, walk tracks, cycle trails, invigorating wild winds, and a light that sparkles, even on a cloudy day.
With this inspiration, we hope to be able to share the stories and experiences of the House, the site, and the region in a deep and respectful way. It will also be a place where new memories and stories will be created. These will join with those from the past to form the future history of this remarkable place.
We welcome your questions and feedback either in person at the events outlined above, via the comment function on the blog or via the formal process run by the Shire.
All the details of the DA can be found on the Shire website.
