Historic mansion Estcourt House at Tennyson may have to make way for retirement village

ONE of the state’s oldest and most prominent buildings is at risk of demolition to make way for a retirement village.

The historic Estcourt House may have to make way for a retirement village.

ONE of the state’s oldest and most prominent buildings – Estcourt House at Tennyson – is at risk of demolition to make way for a retirement village.

Epic Group owner Peter Jurkovich has lodged plans with Charles Sturt Council to bulldoze the State Heritage-listed house in a move criticised by historians and residents.

Frederick Estcourt Bucknall built the 17-room Military Rd mansion in 1882, anticipating views of a proposed inland harbour on the Port River.

In the council application, Marius van Rensburg, on behalf of Mr Jurkovich, said 60 units would be built. He said the upkeep of the building was “very high and increases every year” and there was a “shortage” of beachfront property.

Estcourt House at Tennyson, circa 1900.

“This opportunity will create work for the local community,” Mr van Rensburg said in his applica­tion. “This retirement village will reinstate the original use of pro-viding a home for the elderly that was established in 1894.”

Charles Sturt Deputy Mayor Robert Randall said he was shocked at the plans.

“I am surprised the developer would try and demolish such an iconic State Heritage building,” Mr Randall said.

“If it is demolished, it makes a farce of any listing on the State Heritage Register because we ultimately list buildings to retain them.”

National Trust SA president Deborah Morgan called the plans “a tragedy”.

“It’s such a significant landmark and a tremendous building,” she said.

Western Adelaide Coastal Residents Association president Jim Douglas said demolishing the building would be a “travesty”.

Western Adelaide Coastal Residents Association president Jim Douglas said demolishing the building would be a “travesty”. AAP image/Emma Brasier

“It’s got a very long history of use for social justice and welfare and health services and to have it pulled down would be to lose all of that history,” he said.

Labor MP Stephen Mullighan, whose electorate of Lee includes Estcourt House, said he would write to the council opposing the plans.

“This home is an important part of South Australia’s history,” he said.

After the failure of several investments, Mr Bucknall sold the property in 1894.

WHERE IS ESTCOURT HOUSE

It was used as a convalescent home for children, the blind, polio victims and people with intellectual disabilities.

Mr Jurkovich, who owns Royal Park Salvage, spent $1.6 million renovating the mansion 18 years ago after it was vandalised. He could not be contacted last night.

should estcourt house be saved?