Imperial Hotel - Mount Victoria

I went to the movies at Mt Vic this morning and was surprised to see the appalling state of the Imperial Hotel.

This once grand hotel has been fenced and languishing for six years.
It opened in 1878 and was one of the first resort hotels in Australia.
Plans have been approved for a major upgrade but work has never started, the garden is overgrown the once beautiful building is falling apart.
There are squatters living there, so a fire is on the cards.

Nobody seems to quite know the story, but the consortium involved has gone very quiet.
I've added another commercial venture which may be more successful, an unusual pairing of taxidermy and leadlight restoration:)