Neighbourhood divided as heritage garden on Red Chapel Avenue is ripped up
A once beautiful garden inside a historic property has been ripped up to the shock of neighbours and its previous owners, but the developer has defended why it was necessary. SEE BEFORE AND AFTER >>
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A ONCE beautiful heritage garden at a historic home has been ripped up prompting concern from council and neighbours.
However, the prominent, business-savvy owners have said the works would improve the yard and protect its heritage listed aspects.
A Sandy Bay resident, who wished to remain anonymous, was walking her dog in the local area when she noticed the usually vibrant cottage garden at 2 Red Chapel Ave looking brown and unkept.
“I was horrified,” she said.
“Once it’s gone it’s gone.”
She said her local friend was also outraged and had observed “massive diggers” in the yard.
Areas in the garden that are heritage listed include an iconic hedge of 12 trees, an oak tree, and some other trees.
While heritage listed properties can legally be altered, Hobart City Council required all modifications to be “thoroughly assessed to make sure that the heritage characteristics of the property are not lost” according to their website.
The dog walker alerted council to the changes and was told they would send someone to the property to determine whether or not the heritage features were preserved.
An HCC spokeswoman said the council became aware of works earlier this week and are liaising with Heritage Tasmania.
“Officers have attended the site and preliminary investigations into the circumstances of the works and the requirements under the Heritage Code have commenced,” she said.
“Works on the garden are required to cease until further advice is obtained.”
The 1600 square metre property on the corner of Red Chapel Ave and Sandy Bay Rd sold for $1.77m to the current owner Stewart Family Tasmanian Investments Pty Ltd on 21 December 2020.
Company director and prominent businessman Errol Stewart said the family had to dig up the garden to save the heritage hedges and trees from an ivy infestation.
He said valuable garden items like pathway stones and an ornate sundial were safely stored away for a future return.
“The Japanese maple trees and rhododendrons are all still there, the birch tree is now in decay,” Errol said.
“But the ivy was wrapping itself around every hedge and if we didn’t do something it would have killed the lot.”
Mr Stewart said the family would lodge a development application this month to extend the heritage home and landscape the garden.
He said the DA lodgement cost more than $50,000 due to the amount of consultants involved.
“We’re undecided on the swimming pool – it has a glass atrium over it but I’m not 100 per cent certain whether I want to keep it,” he said.
“Our plan is to replace the garden and make it a highlight of the property.
“The house needs to be completely fixed internally, we’ve got a lot of work to do.
“That’s nothing you can’t do with tender loving care.”
The family of the convict cottage’s previous owner expressed in a statement their sadness at seeing the old garden dug up.
“The family is upset and disappointed by reports of the destruction of such a beautiful and notable garden which was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, extant colonial house and garden in Hobart,” the statement said.
“Although the four families that have lived there over the past 200 years have contributed to the garden, it remained true to its original colonial outlines and containing original plantings.
“It has featured repeatedly in magazines such as Home Beautiful (including being the Tasmanian winner of the Australian Home Beautiful Garden Competition), Leatherwood, Australian House and Garden and Gardening Australia, as well as the Australian Open Garden Scheme; and hosted hundreds of Tasmanian weddings over the years.
“Although the family do not know what plans the new owners have, they hope that the garden will be restored and remain true to its colonial heritage.”
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