Century-old home facing demolition fell off Perth heritage list in move that divided council

The 120-year-old Outram Street home facing demolition to make way for Gina Rinehart’s $250 million West Perth development was on the cusp of being added to Perth’s heritage list until former lord mayor Basil Zempilas intervened.

In a statement to this masthead, the City of Perth revealed the property had been identified as part of a two-year-long survey of culturally significant places for its database between 2021 and 2022.

From left: former Perth lord mayor Basil Zempilas, billionaire proponent of the development Gina Rinehart, and the property’s first resident William Walter.Credit: Composite Image: WAtoday

The expansive 4000-page review, mandated under the state’s heritage laws, canvassed more than 700 properties the city’s officers recommended be added or updated in its records.

City officers inspecting the property found the single-storey Federation-style home at 27 Outram Street in West Perth was substantially intact — having retained the original timber porch, doors, fireplace and tiles — and ruled it worthy of inclusion due to its historical significance.

Perth-based consultants Planning Solutions, engaged by Hancock Prospecting – which had purchased the property for $4.23 million in 2021 – penned a strongly worded letter to the city on November 30, 2022.

In it, the consultants acknowledged the 1904 home had “moderate significance”, but demanded assurances its status would not be elevated in a way that saw it subject to development constraints.

The consultants, which were among 21 to write a letter of objection to the city’s plans, then gave a public deputation against the inclusion of the home and Hancock Prospecting’s 1980s headquarters, which had been identified for its association with mining pioneer Lang Hancock.

The city’s officers stared down those who objected to the inclusion of 16 properties, including 27 Outram Street, recommending the council adopt the survey in its original form.

But when it came time for council to endorse the survey at a meeting on March 28, 2023, Zempilas stepped in, moving an alternate motion that scrubbed the properties from the list.

“It is only a survey: it is a database or a place of record,” Zempilas told the council.

“After the objections from those representing the property owners, I’m satisfied that taking them off will not negatively impact the heritage of our city.”

Councillors fought the move, including Rebecca Gordon, who pointed out Heritage Council guidelines stipulated the inclusion of places should not be conditional on owner support.

“We are carving out properties that should be on the list and I think we’ve seen objections from two major groups — property owners who don’t want to be captured on the state heritage list and those who don’t see heritage value in their property at all,” Gordon told the meeting.

“That’s a controversial space because their concern is what will happen next.”

Gordon, councillor Sandy Anghie and councillor Di Bain voted against Zempilas’ motion, leaving the council divided until the lord mayor used his casting vote to break the deadlock.

The amended list was then unanimously adopted.

Two years later, almost to the day, the family empire Rinehart chairs lodged plans to build a $250 million office tower at the site which this masthead understands will involve the demolition of the home.

Revelations the 120-year-old property is facing an uncertain future, coupled with the well-documented relationship the former lord mayor now has with the influential proponent, has seen the decision thrust into the spotlight.

Within months of the meeting, Zempilas attended a Roy Hill function as Rinehart’s guest of honour, posed alongside her as the city unveiled a fleet of waste trucks with safety upgrades she bankrolled, and attended meetings she organised as part of a bid for the Commonwealth Games.

The following year, his wife Amy Zempilas was on Rinehart’s company Rossi Boots’ payroll and the former broadcaster had MCed her lavish 70th birthday party.

Zempilas did not directly address questions regarding the nature of his relationship with Rinehart at the time of the vote and whether it was necessary for him to declare an impartiality interest, but said his broadcast career had led him to interact with people “of all walks of life”.

“For 31 years, I was employed by Channel 7 and was asked to attend and MC many hundreds, probably thousands of events,” he said.

“Meeting and interacting with people from all walks of life was part of my job.”

A City of Perth spokesperson confirmed the mayor did not seek advice as to the need to disclose such an interest, if it did in fact arise.

The city declined to comment on Hancock’s plans, but pointed out the site’s inclusion on the survey would not necessarily have had implications for its development, given it did not afford places legislative protection.

But the move prevented the property from being catalogued, and its significance flagged during any assessment of the redevelopment plan.

On Monday, this masthead revealed the home faced an uncertain future after a century sheltering returned soldiers, esteemed surgeons and a world-renowned artist.

The project, which comprises a mix of office, gym, wellness spaces, restaurants and serviced apartments opposite the company’s headquarters, was lodged via the WA Planning Commission’s new expedited pathway for developments of state significance.

The pathway guarantees proponents a determination within 120 days and “extraordinary discretion” only in certain circumstances.

A spokesman for Rinehart declined multiple requests to answer questions on the development.

West Australian Heritage Minister Simone McGurk also declined to comment.

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