‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Residents angry over derelict pre-1911 home demolition

Residents are angry Brisbane City Council is allowing developers to demolish a dilapidated pre-1911 home. VOTE IN OUR POLL

A rotting heritage home is set to be demolished to make way for a new development, despite a community group’s last-ditch effort to save it.

Brisbane City Council has regulations to protect heritage homes built pre-1911, but a council spokesman said the weatherboard cottage on Sackville St, Milton, was in a “very poor state”.

The spokesman said the house had extensive water and termite damage to structural elements, meaning significant portions of the dwelling would need to be demolished in order to make it structurally sound.

An independent assessment of 8 Sackville St, Milton, shows vegetation growth to roof, rear and south walls. Picture: Supplied

An independent assessment of 8 Sackville St, Milton, shows rotting timber and structural damage. Picture: Supplied

Independent auditors estimated the cost of making the cottage structurally sound to be almost $350,000.

Council confirmed two complaints had been received about the house and they city’s hoarding and squalor team had attempted to work with the previous owner to address the state of the property.

Despite its derelict condition, the cottage sold for almost $900,000 in November last year to property developers RSD Projects who applied to council to rip down the old home.

Milton resident and community group administrator Jesse Taylor, 43, said the laws protecting heritage homes were “too weak”.

An independent assessment of 8 Sackville Street, Milton, shows rotting timber and termite damage. Picture: Supplied

An independent assessment of 8 Sackville Street, Milton, shows deteriorated stumps supporting the structure. Pic: Supplied.

“It’s death by a thousand cuts. People wonder about why we want to save these mouldy old places but we’re losing this heritage one demolition at a time,” he said.

Mr Taylor encouraged concerned residents to contact council to object.

Since July 2014 when current heritage overlay laws were established, 433 pre-1946 buildings and 27 pre-1911 buildings have been approved for demolition by the council.

Paddington Ward councillor Peter Matic said he shared the concerns of residents when it came to protecting pre-1911 homes.

“It’s important that the heritage and character of this ward is protected,” Cr Matic wrote in a council submission.

“I do not support the demolition of pre-1911 dwellings.”

Mr Taylor pointed to a pre-1911 home on Caxton St, Petrie Terrace, as an example where this hands-off approach was failing.

“It’s missing a downpipe, which is an easy repair, but without it all this water gets into the walls, which then become rotten and mouldy, and ‘Oh look, now it’s too expensive to fix up!’,” Mr Taylor said.

“It’s a shame to see this happen.

“People do love the timber and tin … it epitomises not just Brisbane housing but to some degree it epitomises Australian housing.”

What do you think, should developers be responsible for fixing up dilapidated homes? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.