Heritage building demolition sparks resident backlash over its approval

Locals have voiced their disapproval after Willoughby Council gave the green light to the demolition of a much loved Artarmon facility.

Willoughby Council will demolish the Artarmon Bowling Club and redevelop the site into an outdoor pavilion.

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Demolition of the former Artarmon Bowling Club has been given the green light by Willoughby Council, sparking a mixed response from residents and groups that hired the facility.

Councillors at this week’s meeting voted 8-2 in favour of allocating $825,000 towards knocking down the 1950s building and replacing it with an outdoor pavilion.

For supporters, the redevelopment will encourage new community uses to be held on the site, while for those opposed it will spell the loss of heritage and a facility hired by four businesses including a childcare centre.

Demolition was one of the three options put to councillors, with others including a $1.4 million proposal to refurbish the weatherboard structure for continued community use.

The decision marks the latest development in a fraught history of the site, dating to when dwindling membership resulted in the club’s closure in 2016 and sale to the council for $1 million on the proviso it continue to be used as a community facility.

The bowling greens hosted games from the early 1950s to the club’s closure in 2016.

After taking over the site, the council allowed businesses operating within the clubhouse to remain while also establishing a Citizens Panel to consider “future options” of the building.

But a subsequent council audit found the structure required major renovations to bring up to scratch and in July last year the site was earmarked to be “repurposed into an outdoor community space” as part of upgrades to the surrounding Artarmon Parklands.

Six months later, the council told four businesses operating at the site to vacate due to “safety reasons” associated with the park upgrades.

Each business was offered an alternative facility by the council.

Anna Greco, who ran fitness classes at the club since 2012, said an outdoor pavilion would be “unsuitable” for her classes and the requirements of other businesses that operated on the site.

“The club was being hired five mornings a week, five afternoons a week and four evenings a week and no one in that building can use an outdoor pavilion,” she said.

“I can’t use it for the type of equipment I need, for the yoga (business) it will be either too hot in summer or too cold in winter, and the dance classes can’t use it because they run indoor programs.

The bowling club building, pictured in 1956.

“That aside, the building itself was gifted by the bowling club to the council on the condition it was to be used as a recreational space for the community.

“The council has essentially agreed to demolish an income producing asset that was being hired by the community for what is an expensive piece of concrete costing ratepayers $825,000.”

Resident Glenda Hewitt said the council’s decision was against the advice of the Citizens Panel.

Other residents objected to the loss of heritage. The club was built in 1952 with funds raised by the community and was one of the first in NSW to allow women to bowl.

“The club is an indelible part of our history and should be retained for community purposes,” said resident Kenneth Miller.

Supporters of the demolition, however, said community consultation showed 154 residents were in favour of the redevelopment compared to 153 in favour of refurbishment or keeping the building in its current form.

Anna Greco (front) ran her business — Square Box Fitness — at the club.

Councillor Nic Wright said a pavilion would open up the site for additional community uses and “compliment” the upgrades of Artarmon Parklands.

“The clubhouse is an important part of our history but it’s not fit for purpose for our local community,” he said.

“The pavilion will be able to incorporate a number of different uses.”

Artarmon Progress Association president Peter Wilton said the “dilapidated” state of the building warranted the redevelopment.

“It’s a 1950s building that doesn’t meet the current standards — some areas of the site are almost condemned,” he said.

“The pavilion will be an open space, it’s outdoors. It will be used by a wide range of community groups.”

The favoured option by councillors will involve offsetting the loss of the club by increasing the number of hours two other community centres can be hired.

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Artarmon Kids Cottage will increase by 28.5 hours a week and 139 Artarmon Rd will increase by 16 hours a week.

In a statement, a council spokeswoman said the option for a community pavilion was developed to complement upgrades to the parklands.

“Although the Citizens Panel preferred the retention of the former clubhouse, the community consultation demonstrated that the pavilion option was the community’s preference,” she said.

“There are already community facilities in Artarmon similar to the clubhouse which are under-utilised.

“The pavilion is considered to be of better value to the community as it offers unrestricted access and enhances and compliments the surrounding Artarmon Parklands.”

Upgrades to the parklands are due to be completed by the end of the year and will include a new playground, community garden and oval improvements.