Apartment plan for Highgate’s historic White House
A 20-unit apartment complex across four buildings will be built around the historic White House on Fullarton Rd.
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A local developer will create 20 apartments across four buildings surrounding a landmark property, after Unley Council’s planning panel gave the project the green light.
Unley-based WP Property Group will redevelop the land to the side and rear of the so-called White House on the corner of Fullarton and Cross roads.
The developers originally wanted to create 22 apartments on the almost 3550sq m site, but the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure said a $66 million project to widen the intersection may swallow up some of the land.
The updated development application, approved by Unley’s Council Assessment Panel (CAP) this month, shows the land surrounding the White House will be developed with four two and three-storey buildings – all with a “contemporary design” – and 52 car spaces in total.
A report to the CAP said the site was “identified as a suitable location for a higher concentration of dwellings due to its proximity to public transport, open space and Highgate shopping centre”.
“The construction of two and three-storey residential flat buildings is consistent with the nature of development envisaged along Fullarton Rd,” the report said.
It said the buildings would be of a “high quality”.
“The development has been designed to ensure that it maintains the prominence of the landmark White House building on the corner of Fullarton and Cross Road,” the report said.
Two neighbours objected to the plans, one citing privacy concerns.
In response, planners URPS said: “While they raise a valid planning issues in respect to privacy, it is clear the proposal has incorporated measures that ensure there are no overlooking concerns.”
Built originally as a house and doctor’s surgery in 1938, the White House and surrounding land cost the first owners – Dr Neill Horace Mundy and his wife – £3000.
Another medical family, Dr Gerald McIntosh and his wife Betty, bought the home for £13,500 in 1951.
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Alabri Life Retirement Living then bought the landmark site in 2007, using it as student accommodation.
In 2015, it spent $1 million to transform the building into three luxury retirement apartments and lodged plans with Unley Council to develop the surrounding land with a further 20 retirement homes.
However, the house was later converted into private accommodation.
WP Property Group did not want to comment on the plans.
According to its website, it is currently redeveloping a site on North St, Hectorville, into 19 houses and townhouses, and has other projects at Mile End, Glenelg East and Firle.