A rather large light at the end of the tunnel for The Basin’s abandoned mechanical workshop

An abandoned former mechanical workshop in The Basin may be transformed into a Shell petrol station with takeaway food, a convenience store and two car wash bays.

A planning permit application for 1300 Mountain Highway was submitted to Knox Council on June 6, and interested members of the public can make a comment on the matter until October 7.

A BP petrol station opened on the site in 1965, and in 2001 it became the location for Hillview Motors and Tyres, owned by Ian Hevrich. In 2016 the site was closed. It was sold to National Fuels Pty Ltd in June 2024 for $1,034,000.

Although it is fenced, graffiti has been sprayed on garage doors and a brick wall. It is regularly removed. 

Light it up: The permit application seeks permission to install an internally illuminated pylon sign - two metres wide by four metres high - on the corner of Mountain Highway and Forest Road, to advertise petrol prices and the Shell logo.

The documents do not state proposed opening hours. 

Balancing impacts: Manager of The Basin Community Noticeboard Facebook page, Elise Lacey, told the Eastern Melburnian the proposed service station would revitalise the site but said the illuminated sign would not fit with the community’s character.

“I hope this new business creates job opportunities for local kids, giving them a chance to work close to home,” she said. “If there is a possibility of the station operating 24 hours, I hope this is taken into consideration, so nearby residents aren’t impacted by excess light and noise late at night.”