Fight to save old Le Cornu home at Brighton from being demolished likely to meet crushing end

The historic 1920s former Le Cornu Brighton home will likely be bulldozed – for a currently unknown development on its 9400sq m block.

A shadow of its former glorious self, a historic home is set to be knocked down. Picture: Patrick James

A longstanding fight to heritage-list an iconic Brighton home is likely to be dealt a crushing final blow.

The 1920s house at 28 Sturt Rd and its 9400sq m block was part of the late Le Cornu matriarch Llora Shirley Le Cornu’s estate, before it was put to market for expressions of interest last October.

In March, the purchase of the home was linked to the prominent Taplin Group.

Taplin Group director Andrew Taplin did not comment when approached by The Advertiser last month.

The property as it looks now – surrounded by felled trees and fencing. Picture: Patrick James

A continual topic of interest for Holdfast Bay council’s residents, the property was twice rejected for state heritage listing.

But as several cut-down trees and construction fencing line the property, its days are visibly numbered.

City of Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson said the council had unsuccessfully attempted to heritage list the property for close to 20 years.

A number of destroyed trees on the property. Picture: Patrick James

While the significant trees were protected, smaller ones did not share the same fate. Picture: Patrick James

Rubbish begins to mount on the historic property. Picture: Patrick James

The council also failed to buy the property, with the aim of protecting it, last year.

“We resolved last year to investigate purchasing a property if it was still available for sale,” Ms Wilson said.

“However, we then found out it had been sold to the current owner.”

The property likely will be demolished for an unknown development, Ms Wilson said.

She was not aware of official plans for the large block, but said the home could be knocked down without an application for a new development submitted to council.

But 21 significant and regulated trees will be saved regardless of a potential demolition of the property.

How the historic home looked once. Picture: File.

Under the planning and design code the property could be redeveloped with blocks of a minimum size of 250sq m for row dwellings, houses that share a party wall.

The property, near the corner of Roberts St, was the site of a contentious, failed bid to subdivide the block for 28 houses.

Ms Wilson said there is a need for more living options in the area, but protecting significant trees was the priority of the council.

“There is also a need for more housing in the area, so it depends on what the plans are like,” she said.

“From my perspective, the biodiversity corridor for the bird life there is more important and at least the trees have been saved.”

A nearby resident who wished to only use her first name of Mandy said she would be “absolutely devastated” to see the home knocked down.

“It’s gorgeous and a real nod to the history of the area, I’d be so sad to see it go,” she said.

”It’s a staple and an icon.”