Le Cornu family in new move to sell huge historic block for Brighton subdivision

One of Adelaide’s most prominent retail families is trying again to sell a huge block of land at Brighton to developers – despite fierce opposition.

The Le Cornu home in Sturt Street, Brighton, which sits on the block the family is trying to sell.

A prominent Adelaide retail family has made a fresh bid to sell a massive suburban block that was the centre of fierce opposition against the axing of mature gum trees for a housing development.

The Le Cornu furniture family is seeking a buyer for a historic Brighton house on a 9400sq m block part of the estate of the late matriarch Llora Shirley Le Cornu.

Holdfast Bay Council’s assessment panel refused the axing of 10 mature gum trees to allow for a 28-house subdivision on the Sturt Rd property amid a grassroots campaign demanding the trees be spared.

Opponents had argued the regulated and significant trees, surrounding a 1920s gentleman’s bungalow which was twice rejected for state heritage-listing, were in good health and critical to biodiversity and cooling the neighbourhood.

The panel agreed finding the trees were in good health, did not pose a risk to public safety, would not “restrict development that is reasonable and expected” and “make an important contribution to the character and visual amenity”.

The trees on the massive block that were and species sought for removal, but later saved by the council.

The trees, largely lemon-scented and sugar gums, are located on the perimeter of the block.

It is understood the Le Cornu family were to sell the land to Lofty Building Group pending necessary development approvals but that the company walked away from the deal.

Expressions of interest in the property – on one of the largest landholdings remaining in the Holdfast Bay Council area and 1km from the beach – closed on October 7.

Agent CBRE’s real estate ad says recent “development reforms have created an ideal development platform”.

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.