Heritage – the Value of our Past

Currently in inner Melbourne the concept of Heritage is constantly being challenged – by those who do not value it. Mind you it’s not peculiar to Melbourne. In Adelaide a fortnight ago two 100 year old, massive Morton Bay fig trees were removed with a stealthy commando-style raid in Hazelwood Park. The trees were classified as ‘significant’ by the Burnside City Council but another division of the same council who had certified the trees gave a permit for their destruction.

In Sydney Cadmans Cottage is Sydney’s third oldest building, located on Circular Quay, it is only slightly younger than Parliament House and the Mint. It is a rare surviving Colonial building – the early Headquarters for the Government’s Boats. Currently administered under National Parks the NSW Government wishes to transfer the management to ‘Place Management NSW’ with the usage clause to be changed from ‘no changes permissible’ currently to under the new authority ‘any purpose that enables adaptive re-use – as agreed to in writing’. Consider what that means! You can read more about it here.

Cadman’s Cottage at Circular Quay, the last surviving visible link to early Sydney Cove.CREDIT:ANDREW TAYLOR

In Melbourne the new battleground for Heritage seems to lie in the South Melbourne and Albert Park precincts. Of particular concern is the plan to re-develop three century old shops in Bridport Street (150,148,146) and erect a seven-storey building on the site – a modern construction juxtapositioned next to the Biltmore Hotel, originally the Albert Park Coffee Palace, a spectacular free standing building of four storeys converted to accommodation in the mid-1990’s. The Biltmore and the properties on Bridport Street both back onto the rear of St. Vincents Place, the Heritage Listed London-style estate with its central gardens.

Property in St. Vincents Place.

As well there is still an ongoing Heritage dispute over the property located at 1 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park. The Developer was rebuffed on their original planned development by VCAT but would be appear to be attempting to offer a modified version of the same development plan to council for approval. We will provide updates on both of these projects in the coming months.

Heritage is not piecemeal, it’s not the individual buildings, it’s the overall preservation of our early history, the buildings, craftsmanship and grandeur of our past. It doesn’t mean we cannot modify a property to achieve a level of modern comfort, it does mean that it’s simply not on to destroy these wonderful edifices to create a modern building that in no way relates to its surroundings.

For the owners of Heritage buildings the starting point is to commission a professional Heritage Report that provides a realistic appraisal of the property, the non-negotiables and the possible and permitted compromises. In many cases inappropriate additions and renovations have occurred in the last 100 years, giving scope to actually move on and improve the property and its liveability.

Call Andrew Fedorowicz now for a free no-obligation consultation on your property at your convenience – M:0418 341 443. Andrew is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (F.A.I.A.) with an exciting and interesting portfolio of projects over many years. Gain the space and comfort you desire whilst capitalising on all Heritage features of your home and its location. Call now on 0418 341 443, or leave your details here for a prompt reply. We look forward to hearing from you.

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