The former home of a famous Sunshine inventor will be demolished.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal overturned a Brimbank council decision to reject the owner’s plans to demolish the building and build six double storey units.
The property at 129 Durham Road is the former home of engineer Headlie Taylor who invented the famous Header Harvester.
It was later used as the Sunshine Boys’ Hostel.
The applicant, Berto Chao, is now free to build four, single storey detached dwellings, after modifying plans.
Overturning the council’s decision on May 17, VCAT Member Vicki Davies said the recent history of the “vacant and neglected” property was “an unusual situation”.
“It is an unusual situation in that the respondents who are immediate neighbours fully support the demolition and replacement development but other respondents oppose both the demolition and the replacement development,” she said.
She said the proposed development would not “adversely affect the heritage significance of the precint”.
Beyond reasonable repair
VCAT heard testimony last month from a structural engineer who found the building was “beyond reasonable repair” and “is getting close to being in a dangerous condition”.
Local residents Catherine McDonald and Speroulla Christodoulou argued Mr Hogg’s estimated costs of repair, $860,000, were overblown.
Ms Christodoulou said the building provided a “strong, tangible links with Sunshine’s heritage”.
However heritage consultant, Carolynne Baker found the building “no longer has enough architectural interest to warrant retention”.
Member Davies agreed.
“I fully appreciate that Sunshine has lost much of its heritage, but in the light of Ms Baker’s expert evidence I am not convinced that the existing building warrants retention,” she said.
“Its historical significance is not reflected in the existing fabric. My finding is that demolition is acceptable.”
