City of Stonnington Council has taken legal action over the “deeply disappointing” demolition of a heritage graded cottage at Windsor.
The cottage was one of the oldest and rarest in the municipality and included original timber walls and timber shingle roof which was protected under an aluminium roof.
City of Stonnington Mayor, Jami Klisaris said Stonnington’s rich heritage was one of the things that makes Stonnington a desirable place to live, work and visit.
“In Stonnington, we have many buildings, structures, gardens and places of natural, cultural, and historic significance, and we are committed to preserving these as a legacy for generations to come.
“The loss of this building is extremely disappointing. Once heritage buildings are knocked down, part of our history is lost – never to be recovered,” the Mayor said.
City of Stonnington CEO, Jacqui Weatherill said Council takes the non-compliance with planning permits very seriously and Council’s Planning Investigations team had commenced proceedings in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for an enforcement order.
“We do not tolerate the non-compliance with the planning consent processes especially when a significant heritage building is lost. We took immediate action and will use every possible enforcement action available to Council,” said Ms Weatherill.
Council says a planning permit application was lodged and a planning permit granted for part demolition and extension to the dwelling, however on 1 February 2022 the cottage was completely removed from the land.
During the planning permit process, Council says it worked with the permit applicant to preserve the heritage building.
The timber cottage, constructed in or around 1855, was one of a very early settlement of houses in this south west corner of Prahran (as it was formerly know). By 1875 a redbrick addition to extend the cottage, by one room, along the Andrews street frontage was evident and recorded in the Windsor Ward Book. Since then, apart from very modest changes, including the roof clad with corrugated iron (on top of the shingles), the building has remained largely intact.
On 18 February, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal granted the Council an Interim Enforcement Order against the owner and occupiers (being the builder) of the land. The order requires works to cease on the land and for:
- the immediate identification, recovery and securing of any heritage fabric;
- repairs to original fabric, lists of original lost and damaged fabric;
- photographic evidence of the cottage; and
- the engagement of a specialist Heritage Consultant.
This Interim Enforcement Order is the first step in the Council’s quest to reclaim and reinstate the original timber cottage and brick addition. A further and final hearing before the Tribunal is set for 29 and 30 March.
For more inforamtion about the significance of the property, visit the Heritage Council Victoria website.
