Gym, cinema and basement for 140-year-old Camberwell villa, but conditions apply
A new pool has to be on ground level, not the first floor.
Matthew Sims
June 23, 2026
An indoor pool will be demolished as part of a second-storey extension to a heritage-listed single-storey villa built in the mid-1880s.
🗓️ The history: Covered under Boroondara Council’s own Heritage Overlay, “Warrawee” - at 624-626 Riversdale Road, Camberwell - is a 489sqm, single-storey brick villa circa 1884-1885.
Set on a 5,131-square-metre estate, the property has seen a number of additions over the years, including a swimming pool with an associated glazed enclosure/family room, constructed between 1945 and 1968.
The property was sold for an undisclosed price in December 2021. However, according to property.com.au, the estate is worth more than $4.5 million.
🏗️ What is planned? Planning documents seen by the Eastern Melburnian include the construction of a cinema, gym and basement. Part of the home will be demolished, and there will be a two-storey extension.
Previous conditions placed on the DA included the construction of a new outdoor pool to be on the ground floor, rather than on the first floor.
On Monday June 1, councillors approved the planning permit after introducing a last-minute condition requiring screen planting to stop the new wing dominating the original 1884 home.
😡 Upset neighbours: At the meeting, Camberwell’s Annette Cooper spoke against the project, saying it was "disingenuous" to describe it as an extension.
🗣️ “This is a whole new main residence,” she said.
✅ In line: Boroondara councillor Mal Osborne-Smith said the proposal would achieve a “positive long-term outcome” for the property.
🗣️ “When we are making decisions about places such as this, we are not simply deciding what is acceptable for today's owners … we are making decisions that affect the property for generations to come,” he told the chamber.