Melbourne Heritage Restoration Fund
The aim of the Melbourne Heritage Restoration Fund is to promote conservation of heritage buildings and encourage and financially assist owners of heritage places within the City of Melbourne and other metropolitan municipalities to conserve and restore their buildings or structures for the benefit of the community.
The Melbourne Heritage Restoration Fund was set up in 1988 and is driven by a committee of management with representation from the Heritage Council of Victoria, Heritage Victoria, City of Melbourne and the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
The amount of the loan and/or grant is at the discretion of the committee of management. It is based on the merits of the proposed works and is dependent on the availability of money in the fund at the time. Loans and grants can only be applied for by the building owner.
The Fund can assist with restoration or reconstruction works to heritage buildings that are visible from the street. Where works are only partially visible, the Fund will assist in a way that reflects the impact of the works on the local streetscape. For example, the Fund may not be able to assist in a comprehensive way with repairs to the largely concealed roof of a two-storey terrace house but might contribute in a more substantial way to the same works to a single-storey dwelling on an exposed corner site.
The Fund cannot assist with internal works, routine repairs or maintenance or works that have already been commenced. The Fund does not generally assist with painting unless it forms a component of a larger suite of restoration works and reinstates an early or interpretative colour scheme.
Eligible buildings are located within the City of Melbourne and are of identified historical significance. Significant buildings are rated and listed in the City of Melbourne Planning Scheme Heritage Places Inventory. Contact the City of Melbourne’s Heritage Planner for information about your building or look up the Heritage database on the City of Melbourne website www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/iheritage.