Murals of victims of the Rozelle blast Bianka and Jude O’Brien and Chris Noble are pulled down as building work begins

THE hoardings covered in murals celebrating the memory of the Rozelle blast victims are being pulled down to make way for building work.

Rozelle Village Fair

THE hoardings covered in murals celebrating the memory of Rozelle blast victims Bianka and Jude O’Brien and Chris Noble have started coming down to make way for building work.

Chris’ mother Liz Noble has spoken of the pain her family continues to endure and how the move to rebuild on the site has left her with “huge mixed feelings”.

A permanent memorial will be installed on the second anniversary of the tragedy in September.

Last year, shopkeeper Adeel Khan was committed to stand trial on May 9 for three counts of murder after he allegedly set fire to his convenience store at the site to claim insurance money.

The mural of Bianka O’Brien and her son Jude. Both were killed in the blast.

Chris, 27, and his neighbours Bianka and her infant son Jude, all died in the blast and subsequent fire that ripped through the Darling Street shop in September, 2014.

Mrs Noble said she believed she had delayed properly grieving for her son because she wanted to be strong during the trial, to bear witness for Chris.

“I don’t know what is going to happen when it is all over but there will be no avoiding it.”

The owners of the building at 625 Darling St that was destroyed in the blast are rebuilding a similar style premises with a commercial space at ground level and a residential dwelling upstairs. A wrap-around balcony over the footpath will be a new addition.

Rozelle fire victim Chris Noble (right) with mother Liz.

Mrs Noble said she didn’t blame the community for wanting to move forward.

“The world goes on. We don’t need a reminder, we are not going to forget.”

“The fact that it is such a wonderful community makes what happened even worse. It happened to people who least deserved it.”

Bianka O’Briend with baby Jude who were both killed in the blast.

A spokesman for Leichhardt Council said approval had been granted by the property owners at the Rozelle fire site — for the Noble Family to take the portrait of the their son, Chris, in addition to the portrait of the family, home with them.

Mrs Noble said the family was still to discuss what they would do with the murals but they had considered installing them at a local sports ground in their home town of Canowindra which already has a plaque, tree and seat in memory of Chris.

Work has begun to redevelop the Rozelle Blast site on Darling Street.

The council spokesman said the artist, Patrick O’Rourke was aware that the boards had started coming down. He considers this mural project his best work to date.

Leichhardt Council has photographed the murals for the families of the victims and they will be kept on the council website

The spokesman said a memorial was being developed in consultation with the families who lost their loved ones, and will be installed in September.

“The art work for the memorial is in scale model stage ahead of final consultation with families and for scaling to the site.” It will be installed in green space adjacent to the site.