Plan to save heritage Waite gatehouse building from new intersection works by moving the entire property
A $61 million upgrade of a notorious intersection could feature a first for South Australia, with the relocation of the entire heritage-listed Waite gatehouse property.
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A $61 million upgrade of a notorious intersection could involve the state’s first relocation of a historic building, according to a critic of the road project.
The State Government says it is looking at “all possible options” to retain Urrbrae gatehouse after significant community concern over the proposed upgrade of Fullarton and Cross roads.
Netherby resident Joanna Wells, who has gathered almost 5000 signatures on a petition to save the gatehouse, said moving the building would be “better than nothing.”
“I’ve been told this (relocation) is a serious option but it’s hard to see where they could move it and not lose more trees,” she said.
“The gatehouse is not just about bricks and mortar, it’s about the significance as the entrance to a great estate.”
The Advertiser understands one option is to move the gatehouse, part of the Waite estate bequeathed to Adelaide University, closer to Urrbrae House.
Ms Wells, who is investigating the legal options to save the gatehouse and a number of significant trees in the area, said she had contacted the university and that did not get the impression “they were keen to save the building”.
The complicated operation to move an entire stone and brick building would be the first of its kind in the state
The Advertiser understands Mammoth Movers, based at Meadows, a company which specialises in moving buildings, has been contacted about the costs and logistics of an operation.
Mammoth Movers principal Matthew Manifold referred The Advertiser to DPTI for specific questions around moving the gatehouse but confirmed his company is possibly the only one in Australia that could undertake the work.
Mr Manifold said Urrbrae gatehouse was a similar size to the 300 tonne heritage Hornsby Railway Signal Box his company relocated in NSW but that each job “had its own particular complications”.
A DPTI spokesman did not confirm relocation of the gatehouse was under consideration but said the department was listening to the community while finalising plans for the intersection upgrade.
“We have heard the level of community concern about the retention of heritage in the area, particularly in relation to the state heritage listed Waite Arboretum and Urrbrae House Gatehouse (or ‘Lodge’),” a statement said.
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A finalised intersection concept design is expected to be completed by “mid-2020”.
More than 60,000 vehicles travel through the intersection each day and there have been around five casualty crashes per year in the past five years.
This week police charged Harrison Kitt with causing death by dangerous driving over a crash at the intersection on Aprl 27 that killed Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan and Tania McNeill.