The original building was constructed in 1854 and was called the Belle-Vue Hotel. A short article in The Argus that year described the event held on its opening:

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The hotel was said ‘to rank second to no house in town in the excellence of its arrangements in its healthy situation and in the civility and attention of ‘tain hosts’. Situated as it is, commanding a splendid view of all the shipping in the outer and inner harbors, and being within a few minutes walk of the new bathing-houses on the eastern beach, it presents as one of the most comfortable and convenient hotels in Geelong, and will, I have no doubt, be both liberally and fashionably supported’.

The building has been subject to various alterations since, has been used for several different purposes, and has had several name changes. It was most recently used as a boarding house known as ‘The Ritz’.

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The proposed redevelopment is comprised of 110 apartments over 10 storeys, many of which have unimpeded views across Corio Bay and the Geelong CBD.