Century-old Brisbane homestead facing new threat

It has survived two development plans, but a proposed aged care project could see the demise of a grand home that has stood since 1885.

Rebecca Kenny has led opposition to development plans at Goldicott House in Grove Cres, Toowong. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

A controversial developer appears to be pressing ahead with plans to build an aged care facility on the site of a rare colonial homestead in Brisbane’s inner-west.

Finance group Balmain is circulating a prospectus in the investment community for a loan secured by heritage-listed Goldicott house in Toowong.

Neighbour Rebecca Kenny, who has led efforts to save the site, said it appeared plans for a 150 bed aged care facility with 150 independent living units were still active after Balmain circulated a document abut the proposal.

It was offering a loan, with a target return of 7.45 per cent per annum, secured by Goldicott House.

“The borrower is considering multiple development strategies which are consistent with planning objectives for the property, including an aged care facility comprising 150 beds and 150 independent living units,’’ the document read.

Erial view of Goldicott House.

“The borrower has engaged experienced town planners to assist with the planning and development process.

“The council is generally supportive of a residential aged care development on the site.’’

The glorious former Sisters of Mercy property has been the subject of a bitter fight by residents over more than two years to protect the homestead and its huge grounds.

Pikos Group, which has sparked controversy with a number of developments around the city, had to abandon plans for units on the site but then tried to gain approval for a 600-bed aged care facility.

In July, 2018 Council officers rejected Pikos’ development application after a year-long fight by residents, who made 122 submissions and presented a petition with 2361 signatures.

The rejection came despite State Government support for plans to subdivide Goldicott’s sprawling grounds, with conditions.

Council officers said removing the music room and subdividing the sprawling 12,340 sqm grounds would erode the heritage setting of Goldicott and threaten mostly native trees on the site, now subject to Vegetation Protection Orders.

Pikos went ahead and removed the music room, where Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning learned his craft, about three weeks ago to the dismay of residents in Grove Cres.

After the July, 2018 Council refusal another finance group, Healthley Asset Management Limited, revealed in a crowd funding application to the market that it would buy a 50 per cent interest in Pikos Group’s stake in the property and work with Pikos to gain approval for a 600 bed aged care facility.

Heathley would then sell “at an uplifted value’’ the aged care component with a lease agreement, or sell parts of the site as developable land, or even pursue others uses such as student accommodation, retirement living, childcare or residential developments.

The property was listed with the Queensland Heritage Register in 1999 and is currently used for office purposes.

Former City Planning chair, Matthew Bourke, said after the 2018 rejection by Council: “This site is a rare, early example of Brisbane housing associated with engineer Charles Lambert Depree, as well as with the important educational, cultural and pastoral work of the site’s former owners, the Sisters of Mercy, having been used as convent since 1903.’’