Townhouses to soon emerge at Mt Stuart illegally-razed eyesore site

Controversial Hobart developer Darko Krajinovic has started building his four $1.2 million townhouses at the empty Mt Stuart site where he illegally razed his 1885 property. SEE THE PHOTOS

THE demolished wreck of an illegally-pulverised 1885 Mt Stuart home has now been completely razed – ready for four $1.2 million townhouses to emerge in its place.

The controversial eyesore – defaced by graffiti and shattered window panes – and its final remnants were finally removed over the past few days.

Developer Darko Krajinovic told the Mercury on Monday that construction on his ultra-modern, two-storey townhouses had now officially begun and should be ready by the year’s end.

In February 2017, Mr Krajinovic used an excavator to demolish much of his heritage-listed home without a planning permit.

Darko Krajinovic has now fully demolished the heritage listed dwelling at 55 Mount Stuart Road Mount Stuart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

At the time, concerns were raised about Mr Krajinovic allegedly exposing live power lines, disturbing asbestos and removing two heritage-listed trees in the process.

But the 34-year-old says the Hobart community has now moved on – and that the townhouses will increase Mt Stuart’s property values and help alleviate Hobart’s housing shortage.

Construction on Hobart developer Darko Krajinovic's new two-storey townhouses has now officially begun. Photo: Supplied

“It’s going to improve the area because the old house that was there was good for nothing,” he said.

“It wasn’t anything of significance and the heritage assessment confirmed that. It would be a different story if it was a sandstone house with heritage that you wanted to preserve, but in this case it was just an old rotten house.

“It all fell down, it fell apart in truckloads. It was in really bad condition, it was half gone. There was nothing there to preserve.”

Darko Krajinovic has now fully demolished the heritage listed dwelling at 55 Mount Stuart Road Mount Stuart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Mr Krajinovic said designers Danijel Djekanovic and Alexander Hill had done an “amazing job” on the development plans with “a beautiful view over the city and obviously the river”.

“It’s going to improve this area. It’s a fantastic block, you can’t find a block like this anymore, not in this proximity to the city.”

He also said Hobart City Council, despite initially charging him with breaching planning laws and OHS requirements, were now supportive of the project – as were plenty of locals.

“Some people are still of the same view but some of the people that are still in the area are glad it’s finally cleaned up, and they want to move on,” he said.

I think a lot of people have forgotten.”

Darko Krajinovic has now fully demolished the heritage listed dwelling at 55 Mount Stuart Road Mount Stuart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Mr Krajinovic was fined $225,000 after pleading guilty in the Hobart Magistrates Court to nine charges relating to the demolition.

He then lost a Supreme Court appeal when he argued the fine was manifestly excessive, but in May 2019, was granted council permission to go ahead with the townhouses development.

However, he’s due to return to court on May 28 for additional charges after he allegedly removed stone footings at the site.

He has pleaded not guilty to failing to ensure demolition work complied with the Building Act, failing to engage a building surveyor and undertaking a development contrary to a planning scheme.