Former owner Catherine Miller speaks out against her former home’s chopping block housing
The former owner of a 135-year-old bluestone villa in Adelaide’s east is devastated by plans to bulldoze it to make way for townhouses.
East, Inner Suburbs & Hills
Don't miss out on the headlines from East, Inner Suburbs & Hills. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The former owner of one of the city’s oldest homes has spoken out about its possible demolition, saying she never would have sold it if she knew its future fate.
Catherine Miller, who refers to herself as a ‘former custodian’ rather than owner of 70 Fisher Street, Fullarton, said she was ‘mortified’ to learn about her home.
“I had and continue to have many sleepless nights over the thought of losing that home,” Ms Miller said.
“I am so mortified that this historic home will just be demolished without a thought.”
Ms Miller lived in the home for the better part of a decade before putting it on the market in 2020.
Although homeowners have no way of knowing who or what new owners will do to their property, Ms Miller said she never would have sold if she knew the outcome.
“We always wanted to build an extension on the back but retain the beauty of the bluestone … it’s what I thought the new owners would do.”
Ms Miller spoke highly about the property, saying the doors and the cellar steps told a century-old story, something you cannot replace.
“It was used as a servant’s house and the doors locked from the inside, the stairs down the cellar showed their age but had such character,” she said.
“We were just so lucky to be apart of it’s story.”
The 135-year-old Fullarton home located on Fisher St, which was sold for $1.2m in 2020 and then again for $1.9m a year later, could soon face the wrecking ball after developers Hyland Property Group submitted plans to the City of Unley that could see the construction of two two-storey detached dwellings with ancillary swimming pools.
When the initial planning alert went live 12 months ago, more than 70 local residents contested them, saying it was evident local history had fallen to wayside.
The 1886 bluestone villa sits on a 1014sq m block with five bedrooms, three living areas, two bathrooms and an underground cellar.
A spokesman for Unley Council said a lot of the power councils previously held to fight against developments such as the Fisher St property had been bypassed under the new planning code.
“It was acknowledged at the time that the subject dwelling is a building of high integrity and is of a built form and character that aligns with Historic Area provisions in the planning and development system,” said the spokesman.
“Unley Council has a strong focus on preservation of these types of dwellings, but the unfortunate reality is that, for a variety of reasons, they become unsuitable, or have issues that are too costly for new owners to fix.”
As for Ms Miller, she says she cannot bare to drive down her former street anymore and can’t see herself in the future as it would be too upsetting.
“It’s truly upset me … I hope the council are aware of what they are losing because once these buildings are gone, we can never get them back.”
Tobacco store goes up in smoke in Adelaide’s east
Police have launched an investigation into a suspicious fire at an eastern suburbs smokes store. It comes as a Flinders Park business was targeted in arson attacks two days in a row.
‘This isn’t just for older people’: Leaving family with an unimaginable decision
A grandfather of two was suddenly left fighting for his life leaving his family to make difficult medical decisions including an unexpected transplant.