were not resolved until January 2012, and this delay meant the 2010 planning permit would lapse. The new Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy refused an extension, but an appeal to VCAT was successful in August 2012, with work to commence by 10 January 2015. In 2013 more extensive works to the interior of the building were proposed which appalled heritage groups, replacing much of the interior except the grand stair, dining room and the 'heritage suites' in the front wing, which were approved by Heritage Victoria in September 2013. After this, the owner sought another extension to the original planning permit, which the Minister refused, and upheld by VCAT in August 2014, meaning work must commence by 10 January 2015. In mid 2015, new planning controls for the area were put in place, with a mandatory 40m height limit for the rear part of the Windsor site, much lower than the planned tower. With only very preliminary works having started, the Halim group applied for another extension, this time for completion, which the Minister for Planning refused. Another appeal to VCAT was successful, and in 2016, an extension of the completion date to 31 March 2020 was granted. The VCAT decision noted that another extension was unlikely. In August 2019 with no further work occurring, another application for an extension was sought, which the Minister for Planning refused, and the Halim group announced that they would work with Heritage Victoria on an 'alternative solution'. Notable guests Notable guests at the Windsor have included Margaret Thatcher, George VI of the United Kingdom and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (as Duke and Duchess of York), Meryl Streep, Anthony Hopkins, Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, Katharine Hepburn, Basil Rathbone, Lauren Bacall, Douglas Fairbanks, Byron Sharp, Claudette Colbert, Robert Helpmann, Rudolph Nureyev, Dame Nellie Melba, Dame Joan Sutherland, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Michael Dukakis, Muhammad Ali, Barry Humphries, Don Bradman and the Australia national cricket team as well as Australian prime ministers Sir Robert Menzies, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Howard. References External links Victorian Heritage Database Official site of the renovation plans Hotel buildings completed in 1884 Hotels in Melbourne Heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne Victorian architecture in Victoria (Australia) Second Empire architecture in Australia 1884 establishments in Australia Landmarks in Melbourne Green bans Temperance movement Coffeehouses and cafés in Australia Buildings and structures in Melbourne City Centre