Cave Hill Quarry

Image © Ben Wrigley

The 170 hectare Cave Hill Quarry site in Lilydale includes the quarry itself and an overburden dump, limestone processing buildings and machinery, areas of undeveloped land, and an historic farm complex founded in the 1870s by quarry-founder and businessman David Mitchell. In 2015, Lovell Chen completed a conservation management plan for the site and developed an interpretation strategy. We have continued to provide design advice on adaptive reuse opportunities, detailed conservation of fabric and management of authority approvals as the site has undergone redevelopment for housing and is integrated into the local suburb.

Enabling planning processes, taking a precinct approach

In February 2022 a Comprehensive Development Plan for the site was approved by the Minister for Planning. The amendment to the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme prepared by the VPA in association with the shire council and development consortium, identifies four precincts for the site, including a mixed-use heritage precinct focused on the limestone processing installations. The redevelopment in this area will include open space, and creative and tourism facilities, as well as conserved heritage infrastructure.

The 170 hectare site, of which a large portion is heritage listed, has value relating to its geomorphology and geological composition, archaeological discoveries, intangible Aboriginal cultural values, use as an experimental farm, and its post-colonial importance as a source of limestone — which led to the installation of what became leading industrial facilities.

Details

Date

2011 - Ongoing

Status

Ongoing

Location

Melbourne/Naarm

Traditional Owners

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people

Image © Ben Wrigley

Heritage infrastructure management

Long-term maintenance and management of heritage infrastructure and elements has been an important aspect of the evolutionary process the site is undergoing. Ongoing advice and documentation of essential management actions for buildings ranging from the cathedral scaled pot kilns to small classical model farm buildings has been undertaken progressively as the site evolves.

Image © Ben Wrigley

Meet the team

Adam Mornement
Director

amornement@lovellchen.com.au | 0409 999 491Contact Adam Mornement

Michael Cook
Associate Principal

mcook@lovellchen.com.au | 0421 197 960Contact Michael Cook

Maxwell Bracher
Senior Associate

mbracher@lovellchen.com.auContact Maxwell Bracher

Strategy & Stewardship Sustainability & Conservation

Goods Shed Ballarat

Conservation of a redundant assest undergoing adaptive reuse

Strategy & Stewardship Sustainability & Conservation

Flinders Street Station

Project focused on conserving and refurbishing the fabric; making the building watertight, improving its structural stability and preventing deterioration

Sustainability & Conservation

Mission to Seafarers

Essential maintenance and conservation works sustain an essential mission

Sustainability & Conservation

Pentridge Prison

A shared responsibility to conserve

Cave Hill Quarry conservation management plan

Heritage design advice on adaptive reuse

Detailed conservation of fabric and interpretation strategy

cave hill quarry

Enabling planning processes, taking a precinct approach

Details

Date

Status

Location

Traditional Owners

Sector

Expertise

Services

Heritage infrastructure management

Goods Shed Ballarat

Flinders Street Station

Mission to Seafarers

Pentridge Prison

Chimney Investigations at the Former Records Office Victoria

Staff visit the Royal Historical Society of Victoria

Libby wins Professional Historians Australia essay prize

Current scope of works approaching completion at Werribee Park Mansion

At-height assessments at the University of Melbourne

Happy 80th Anniversary ANU

PIA Victoria Summit at Wesley Place Precinct

Scots' Church Melbourne

A moving Smoking Ceremony for ANU University House

Lovell Chen Trivia Night, 2026 edition

'ADAPT!' to launch with MDW 2026 panel

Trades Hall Stage 3 Opening

'Making a Heritage Building Modern' tour

Lovell Chen authored guide launches in Queensland

Lovell Chen Trivia Night 2025