Archive for December, 2009

The Terricks, Hawthorn. Image by J.v.D.a

The Leader has another story about Hawthorn’s heritage character being compromised.  This time, the redevelopment of the Victorian mansion “The Terricks” described as a tragedy by Hawthorn historian Gwen McWilliam.  The Terricks, a classically designed “Marvellous Melbourne” mansion dates to 1882 and was designed by one of Melbourne’s most significant firms Reed and Barnes.  Despite being in a City of Boroondara heritage overlay, the plans approved by council involves demolition of the rear, leaving the street facade and replacing the demolished section with a large concrete and glass box to house 28 apartments.

Thanks to Aussie Steve for the tip.

Its been a bad day for tudor revival buildings.  Just read that the state government is compulsorily carving up a historic property Westerfield’s to build a new freeway…

The 1929 house it seems was saved through a heritage listing.

On Mount Dandenong a suburb that’s character is defined by the Tudor Revival movement, a double storey interwar tudorbethan home was completely destroyed by fire.

The Surrey Hills Post Office in 1944 from the National Archives of Australia

A great little example of the Edwardian heritage of Surrey Hills in Melbourne’s east is gone as the local council did not move to protect it.  The historic building at 609 Canterbury Road has been bulldozed.

The polychromatic Federation Freestyle building had been restored as recently as the 1990s and ironically was for many years home to “Gargoyles & Dragons”, one of many restoration companies in the Canterbury area which serviced a once booming restoration industry.

From the Progress Leader:

THE demolition of a slice of Surrey Hills history without the need for council permission has outraged locals, who say it should have been protected. The former post office in Canterbury Rd, built in 1915, was bulldozed by private owners last Tuesday. Disbelieving residents were angry they were not consulted or given a chance to object. Boroondara Mayor Jack Wegman said no planning permit was required because the site was not in a heritage overlay and approval for demolition was issued by a private building surveyor. ‘‘Council appreciates residents’ concerns; however, under the building legislation the owner was not legally required to undertake public notification,’’ he said. Neighbour Nigel Elms questioned why residents were ‘‘put through hoops’’ to obtain planning approval for simple alterations to their homes, yet a historic building could ‘‘disappear overnight’’. ‘‘There’s been no advertising, no information, and something will be built in its place that no one knows anything about,’’ he said. Canterbury resident Robin Kelly said the failure to identify the building as heritage-significant in a 1991 City of Camberwell Conservation Study was ‘‘disgusting’’.

‘It’s upset me that a beautiful building, almost 100 years old that means so much to Surrey Hills residents, would be torn down,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s such a waste.’’

Ms Kelly is a past president of the Surrey Hills Historial Society. Cr Wegman said the owner would need to apply for a council planning permit to construct a new building.

Maling Ward councillor Dick Menting said he would ask the council to investigate ways to protect other historic buildings.

Ringwood-based owner Kinvale Gardens Investments Pty Ltd refused to comment.

Thanks to Bobman for pointing this out.

Editor Note: We can no longer trust our local councils to be vigilant in matters of heritage.  If you love a particular building, make sure you research its heritage status and if it is not protected, lobby your local council for its inclusion in an updated heritage study and/or nominate it to the National Trust and Heritage Victoria.  Sadly that will not always guarantee it will be saved, but it will at least be afforded a better chance.

Gardenvale railway station house. Image from wikipedia.

The Gardenvale Railway Station’s station house  at Gardenvale station on the Sandringham line was destroyed by a suspicious fire this morning.  The main weatherboard and hipped corrugated iron roofed station building was constructed in 1904.

Penfolds buildings, former cable tram terminus in Fitzroy was demolished today (image from the Art Deco & Modernism Society)

Very sad times for Melbourne art deco fans.

The long protracted death of Penfold’s buildings, a stunning but derelict moderne-style tram shed on the corner of Brunswick Street and Victoria Parade has inally reached its climax.  One of the rare works of reknowned interwar architect Harry Norris, the result of a remodelling of an 1880s cable tram station in 1936 has succumbed to redevelopment as part of an apartment complex.

A failed nomination was made to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2007.  The state government planning minister ignored the appeals of the City of Yarra, Art Deco Society, National Trust and local residents – siding with the developer to push ahead for its removal in 2008.  An appeal taken to VCAT was overruled allowing the sheds to be demolished.  Sadly it was argued that not even the spectacular tower and facade were worth saving.  In the writers opinion with a simple coat of paint this building could have remained a great deco landmark.

The bulldozers were very quick to move in today.

The Capital Bakeries, a similar remodelled cable tram shed in Chapel Street has also been approved for demolition and awaits the same fate.

If these demolitions move you even slightly my recommendation would be to join the Art Deco Society today and help preserve what is left of our fantastic art deco heritage before it is too late.

One can only hope that the apartment building that replace them will stand the test of time.  Fitzroy’s heritage character is certainly not be the winner here.  Such a shame that our planners and developers have such narrow vision.

And so the unrelenting destruction continues …