Bendigo's council voted on Monday to request the state authorise a planning amendment to apply a heritage overlay to a property home to the John Beebe Observatory.

Sitting at 55 Condon Street, Kenningon, the domed structure was built in 1900 by a noted architect and amateur astronomer John Beebe.

Read more: Council races to impose heritage restrictions after site hits the market

It's one is one of few remaining private observatories in Victoria.

The address also holds a dwelling from the same period, of potential local significance.

Council staff warned the observatory was in danger of being demolished, after the current owner listed the property for sale.

Councillor Dave Fagg said the house and observatory connected Bendigo to an important time, and an important person.

Cr Fagg urged councillors to vote for the listing, given resistance from the owner to let council staff inspect the site.

Councillor Andrea Metcalf said it was important people looking to purchase the property knew there was heritage interested in the site.

The private observatory was described as "a rare surviving example" of its kind by the agenda report into the issue.

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It's believed to be one of few private observatories from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries remaining in Victoria.

The report stated the associated home named La Rocca likely also had local significance.

Councillors unanimously voted to request the Planning Minister authorise council to prepare an amendment, and authorise an interim heritage overlay.

John Beebe was a prominent local architect, brother of Mayore William Beebe, and partner of William Vahland.

The observatory featured an elevated central dome room, with adjacent wings. It mirrored similar designs popular in Britain, Europe and the United States of America.

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