January 30th, 2024VCAT rules on Dan Murphy sign mooted for Daylesford

A recent VCAT ruling means a large advertising sign for Dan Murphy’s liquor retailer will not be able to be installed in Daylesford as planned.

In VCAT case P493/2023 – Banco Properties v Hepburn Shire Council, VCAT has denied the appeal which would have allowed the sign ( to be installed on the corner of Central Springs Road and Bridport Street.

VCAT agreed with the Hepburn Shire Council and the objectors that the sign was not in keeping with the aesthetics of the area.

The VCAT member stated in the findings: “The introduction of a 5-metre-high pole sign with internally illuminated display areas will be inconsistent with the character of this area, both the commercial land to the north of Central Springs Road and the residential land to the south.”

The original design of the proposed sign had a height of 6.4 metres, width of 1.6 metres, and a panel area of 10.2 square metres. The sign was to be double sided, and internally illuminated with a lux level of 1500 and have Dan Murphy’s face on it.

However, the applicant changed the sign prior to the hearing, reducing the height to 5.0 metres, change the width to a maximum of 3.2 metres, increasing the overall area of the sign, and reducing the internal illumination to 1000 Lux.

However, the overall design was determined by VCAT to be “not compatible with the character of the area or the streetscape or setting.”