Movement at the station as Wallcliffe House ‘deconstruction’ work starts this month in Margaret River

The private company owned by Voyager Estate owner Alexandra Burt and her husband Julian has offered an update on the latest moves at Wallcliffe House.

A spokesperson for the Landsmith Collection, which represents a portfolio of boutique brands owned and developed by the mining heiress, said action would ramp up at the prime location overlooking the banks of the Margaret River.

Work would start on removing sections of the existing buildings damaged by the 2011 Margaret River bushfires.

“All necessary steps of heritage and indigenous consultation are being taken to ensure the appropriate levels of oversight are in place,” the operator said.

“The intervening months have been spent working with our incredible team of architects, interior and landscape designers, heritage experts builders, engineers and more to further refine the plans for the built form that will bring Wallcliffe House back to life.”

The project to develop a boutique hotel, restaurant, gallery, and chalets at the site stirred contention before the development application was approved early last year.

Aboriginal heritage activists and some conservationists opposed the project, with the developers later backtracking on a commitment for the high-end site once described as a “resort” open to day visits from local residents.

As representatives for the company explained at the time, the voluntary downsizing of the initial vision for the project to make it more sustainable meant some aspects of the offering had to change.

Along with “deconstruction works,” the spokesperson said other activities would soon bring shed structures onto the property to help with future works.

“This will mark the move from planning to doing, a major milestone and an exciting phase in this many-layered project,” the spokesperson said.

Also planned from late March were service works.