Demolition crews begin tearing down abandoned mansion in Charlemont

Following significant delays, a demolition crew has begun tearing down the Charlemont ‘spooky house’, in a welcome sign for neighbouring residents.

Demolition work has finally begun on an abandoned Charlemont mansion. Picture: Alan Barber

A demolition crew has started tearing down a derelict Charlemont house, much to the delight of neighbouring residents fed up with the eyesore.

At midday on Sunday, a demolition crew and excavators were at the Batten Rd property ripping down the roof and walls of the abandoned mansion.

The works come nearly two weeks after the deadline of a council building order that required the owners to demolish “the dwellings and outbuildings”.

A worker on the site said the demolition would take about two days.

The City of Greater Geelong confirmed on July 19 that the owners of the property had assured council officers it would be demolished the next week.

The house – described by neighbours and City of Greater Geelong chief executive Ali Wastie as “derelict”, “very unsightly” and “unsafe” – has been the cause of much frustration for many local residents, who live across the street from it in a newly built estate.

The abandoned property posed safety risks, and was an eyesore for local residents. Picture: Alan Barber

The abandoned house poses a safety risk due to extreme vandalism by trespassers, who neighbours allege on one occasion attempted to set the house on fire.

Mother-of-three Mariska Oberholzer, who lives adjacent to the property, said she had seen young people climbing on the outside of the house and throwing tiles off the roof.

“Kids get on top of the roof and it’s a double-storey house,” she said.

“I’ve stood here and I’ve watched them, and I’ve tried to signal them down, but they don’t listen.

“It’s so scary to watch. I now just go inside because I don’t want to see them fall off or through the roof.”

A property directly neighbouring the house was also torn down the week prior.

City of Greater Geelong placemaking director Tennille Bradley told the Geelong Advertiser in June that council was actively investigating multiple abandoned properties in the area.

Originally published as Demolition crews begin tearing down abandoned mansion in Charlemont