Parramatta: Fears Houison’s Cottage could face demolition for Metro station
There are fears another historic treasure in one of Australia’s oldest suburbs is to succumb to the bulldozer to make way for a train station.
Parramatta
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There are fears the 178-year-old Houison’s Cottage at Parramatta will be demolished so a Metro West train station can be built.
The station will be built on the Horwood Place block bounded by George, Macquarie, Church and Smith streets.
The station would integrate with the proposed Civic Link, a green pedestrian-friendly public space from Parramatta Square in the south to Parramatta River in the north.
Parramatta architect and builder James Houison constructed the Houison’s Cottage, which is currently used by a law firm, in 1842 in the Colonial era and alterations in 1955 saw the building adopt a Georgian character.
Transport for NSW has denied the cottage would be demolished but Granville state Labor MP Julia Finn said the double-storey property, also known as Kia Ora, was under threat for the Metro and lashed out at the Berejiklian Government’s treatment of heritage buildings in Parramatta.
“If it was in other parts of Sydney they would not put up with this,’' she said.
“It wouldn’t happen in the eastern suburbs or the north shore and we’ve got more heritage in Parramatta, and it’s about time the government recognises that.”
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“It’s not very big,’’ she said.
“It would be very easy to build around it and retain it.”
Nearby at Parramatta, 1870s-built Italianette villa Willow Grove at Phillip St, is facing demolition to make way for the Powerhouse Museum, dubbed the “monstrosity on stilts”.
St George’s Terrace will also be wiped out for the museum.
In February, one of Australia’s oldest watering holes, the Royal Oak, called last drinks ahead of its demolition for the Parramatta Light Rail project.
However, a Transport for NSW spokesman said Houison’s Cottage denied the cottage, which is listed as a historically significant building, would be retained and protected.
“Transport for NSW makes every possible effort to avoid the need to acquire private property and will only do this when it has exhausted all other avenues,’’ the spokesman said.
“Through the ongoing design and development process, Sydney Metro will ensure that any potential impacts on heritage items within a construction site are avoided or minimised.”
The spokesman said the planning process for Sydney Metro West had started and the first Environmental Impact Statement would be on display later this year.
“This will include consultation with community and stakeholders,’’ he said.
Construction of the Western Sydney Metro linking the CBD to Westmead is due to be completed by 2030 and is expected to cut travel time between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD to 20 minutes.
Seven station sites have been confirmed at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and the Bays Precinct.
The government is also investigating whether stations should be built at Pyrmont and Rydalmere, and the government is yet to determine where the new CBD station will be located.