Six Senses Signs On to Trenerry’s $100m Heritage Revamp

The Trenerry Consortium, backed by the wealthy Smorgon family, has revealed plans for a $100-million makeover of the historic Burnham Beeches in Melbourne’s Yarra Ranges for Australia’s first Six Senses resort and spa.

The consortium—made up of the Victor Smorgon Group, The Kanat Group and Trenerry Property— paid $16.6 million for the 22ha Sherbrooke estate in March. 

It is home to a number of heritage buildings, including one of Victoria’s most significant art deco buildings, which will now be restored.

Over the past four decades Burnham Beeches has had nine owners, each of whom owned the property for less than five years due to a lack of commercial viability because of the cost of restorating the mansion and limitations of the existing permit.

Previous plans by chef Shannon Bennett and business partner Adam Garrisson, which failed to materialise, envisaged a sustainable resort with hotel, spa, wellness centre, villas, cafe, bakery, function areas and restaurant.

Their proposal was knocked back due to concerns about the size of the accommodation offering and impact on residents. 

A subsequent $40-million plan for a 55-room hotel, function centre, shop, brewery and two food and drink venues was approved in late 2018 but they did not proceed.

The consortium has now unveiled its own plans for the site after enlisting the luxurious eco resort brand Six Senses. 

Established in 1995 by Indian-British hotelier Sonu Shivdasani, Six Senses is now recognised as a hospitality industry pioneer of sustainable practices and now manages 20 hotels and resorts in 17 countries with another 34 in its pipeline.

The consortium’s plans will require approval from Heritage Victoria as the masterplan includes the refurbishment of the three-level, 1933 Alfred Nicholas mansion and its surrounding gardens into a 43-room hotel, wellness retreat, restaurant and bar.

▲ The masterplan encompasses three experiential zones—the Mansion and Spa, the Village Green, and the Hilltop Retreat. Image: Woods Bagot

Alongside a world-class restoration of the mansion and surrounding garden, the masterplan includes plans for the Nicholas Hall and Library, a restaurant, wellness retreat, pool house and guest rooms.

There will also be a rustic “village square” hospitality hub that will include a steakhouse, bakery, brewery and providore open to the public.

To address planning challenges, the project team said it has proposed a premium, non-permanent glamping site—ultra-luxury tents—which will be erected on the sprawling sea-side estate to take the total number of “rooms” of the resort to 82. 

This model is used globally to allow for non-intrusive and environmentally friendly accommodation in national parks or regions of historical significance. It will take the total number of “rooms” of the resort to 82. 

Trenerry director Robert Dicintio said a key strategy of the consortium had been and would continue to be to engage and listen to the community, the council, Heritage Victoria and Parks Victoria. 

“Burnham Beeches has been vacant for 36 years in its 89-year history,” Dicintio said.

“We now have a dedicated and world-class team passionate about activating the site as it was always intended to be.

“With the commitment by Six Senses firmly in place and a masterplan which reflects feedback from stakeholders, the only hold up to construction commencement will be with awaiting the review process by the various authorities.”

The development follows the consortium’s recently completed $100-million transformation of the heritage Continental Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula into a luxury InterContinental.  

Similarly, Trenerry Property secured the beleaguered Sorrento venue for $14.5 million in 2020 before redeveloping the property into a 5-star, 100-guest room hotel and resort with restaurants, bars and a wellness centre.

The consortium has again enlisted Woods Bagot as lead architect and interior designers and construction firm Hamilton Marino to manage the restoration and build of Burnham Beeches. 

It has also secured the support of Sophie Paterson, the great-granddaughter of Burnham Beeches’ original owner Alfred Nicholas, who is part of the project team.

Dicintio said plans for Burnham Beeches would be presented to neighbouring property owners later this week. If approved, it is expected to take two years to redevelop.