Vandals trash historic Romilly House on corner of Hackney Rd and North Tce, Kent Town

One of Adelaide’s most prominent historic buildings has been badly damaged by vandals – with the property’s future now in question.

Damage to one of Adelaide’s most prominent historic buildings has again drawn the future of the 140-year-old property into the spotlight.

Vandals have graffitied the walls, smashed the windows and ripped apart a staircase of state heritage-listed Romilly House on Hackney Rd, Kent Town.

The Romilly House damage has been documented by pro-heritage Facebook group Help save South Australia’s history from demolition.

Page administrator Debbie Williams was saddened by the state of the building and was worried that it would only be a “matter of time before another fire or drastic event”.

“Rudy (Bodonyi) does not deserve this abuse of his property, and he has always wished to try and look after this site to the best of his ability,” she posted on Facebook. “But when you are up against such vicious and relentless attacks, such as we see in these images, our heart breaks for him.

“We are trying to think of how we can help, where to begin. There are currently people on site, trying to secure the building, but the damage to the staircase, and indeed the rest of the building, is staggering.”

Vandals have damaged the staircase of the state-heritage listed Romilly House on Hackney Rd at Kent Town. Picture: Help save South Australia’s history from demolition

Shattered windows inside Romilly House, broken by vandals. Picture: Help save South Australia’s history from demolition

The building was initially a hotel, then hosted nightclubs and was most recently a boarding house but has remained vacant since about 2017 when occupants were ordered out because of a cockroach infestation.

Mr Bodonyi, who is aged in his mid-90s and has owned the property for “more than 20 years”, told The Advertiser that his preference was to lease the building rather than sell it.

“It has tremendous long-term opportunities,” he said. “I have got a number of requests from different organisations (to buy the building) but you would have to have someone who would really want to do a lot of work.

Vandals have damage the state heritage-listed Romilly House on the corner of Hackey Rd and North Tce at Kent Town. Picture: Help Save South Australia's History from Demolition

“Alternatively if a company wants to build a 10-12 storey building on the carpark they could do that.”

The National Trust of SA’s chief executive Darren Peacock said the building was “iconic” and said he would like to meet with Mr Bodonyi to discuss its future.

“There’s lots of advice we could give him, otherwise he’s going to be left for the prey of developers,” he said.

“There’s a danger that people could use the state of decline for justification for demolition.”

A Norwood Payneham and St Peters Council spokeswoman said the council would board up damaged parts of the building to stop “vandals and squatters” accessing the building and for public safety.

“The building – which is currently unoccupied – is periodically monitored by the council’s Building Fire Safety Committee.,” she said.

“The committee has asked the owner to ensure the safety of the building but he hasn’t complied with the request.

Rudi Bodonyi in front of historic building Romilly House in Kent Town in 1999.

“As a result, council will be seeking reimbursement from the owner for the work undertaken to board up the building.”

It comes just months after The Advertiser revealed the empty state heritage-listed Newmarket Hotel, on the corner of North Tce and West Tce in the city, was also recently vandalised.

The owners were criticised for allowing people to trash the building, including the property’s grand spiral staircase.

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