Iconic beachside home set to make way for townhouse project

Community anger is building over plans to demolish one of the Gold Coast’s most famous historic homes to make way for a ritzy townhouse development.

A developer plans to knock down this historic home on the Gold Coast to make way for a number of townhouses. Picture Glenn Hampson

ONE of the Gold Coast’s most iconic historic homes appears set to be demolished to make way for a new townhouse development, angering locals.

The 67-year-old beachside red brick home, at 36 O’Connor Street, Tugun, is believed to have recently sold in a multimillion-dollar deal.

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Locals are outraged by plans to demolish the historic Tugun home. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Occupying a prime corner block opposite Tugun Surf Club, the six-bedroom home was designed by acclaimed Brisbane inter-war architect Eric Trewern and was built in 1953.

It was once home to the prominent artist Betty Quelhurst, but was sold following her death in 2008 and has changed hands several times since.

An ad for a ritzy townhouse development called Habitat has been posted on Facebook by an upset local resident.

Posting to the Tugun Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page, another resident said they had seen an ad for the sale of the home’s original timber windows.

The post has been flooded with more than 200 comments from furious locals.

Many are questioning why the property is not heritage-listed so it could be saved.

“The little number of historic buildings we have are all being destroyed,” one resident posted.

Another wrote: “What a shame, something so beautiful to be replaced with ugly apartments. Surely that would have had some heritage status!”

Originally published as Iconic beachside home set to make way for townhouse project