This story was updated with additional information on 16 January 2021 – see below
A late 1800’s property in Wellington Point, proposed for local heritage listing by Redland City Council, has been approved for demolition which could begin as early as Tuesday 12 January 2021.
This property is located at 3 Station Street / 509 Main Road in Wellington Point. The white house is readily visible from the train on the southern side of Wellington Point Station before the road overpass, heading westward.
Sale and demolition of a heritage property
The property, comprising three lots with a total area of 2,957 m2, was marketed as a “development opportunity” from March 2020.
Sale of the property for $1,250,000 was concluded on 21 December 2020.
Application BX321999 for demolition of this property was lodged on 9 November 2020 and approved by a private certifier two weeks later on 23 November 2020.
It’s understood that the current tenant is required to vacate the property no later than midnight on 12 January 2021.
Heritage value of 3 Station Street / 509 Main Road
The property at 3 Station Street / 509 Main Road Wellington Point is one of 49 properties which Redland City Council proposed for inclusion on its Local Heritage Register.
The inclusion of these properties on the local heritage register is being done through a proposed major amendment to the Redland City Plan which was initiated in 2019. Most of the properties being proposed for heritage listing are privately owned.
Following a review by the State Government, the proposal for heritage listing was put out for community consultation from 12 October 2020 to 4 December 2020. The Council says that it received 36 submissions.
Statement of heritage significance
Information published by Redland City Council as part of its public consultation process included the following “Statement of significance” for the property at 3 Station Street / 509 Main Road, Wellington Point.
“The residence of 3 Station Street/509 Main Road, Wellington Point, is locally significant to Wellington Point as it has strong historical values and has special associations with the development of the Redlands area. The house is situated in the historic Trafalgar Vale Estate on land originally owned by Gilbert Burnett, and its appearance suggests its construction aligned with the formation of Burnett’s sawmill industry of the 1880s. It remains an example of an early settlement house in the local area, reflecting the pattern of development in Wellington Point. The house also retains aesthetic value as it is an intact example of an 1880s residence.”
Current condition of the property
This Victorian era home is built of solid hardwood and tin with a pyridimal roof and a wrap-around verandah which is in need of repair.
The framework and skin of the inner house are in good condition, however the floor is uneven as it is still on heavy square hardwood stumps, possibly original, whilst the verandah was restumped.
The historical formwork guttering has rusted, but the decorative metal acroteria on the roof and gutters are largely intact. The house itself has the single skin wall intact and in good condition. This is made with the wide, thick planks of the era and has characteristic external cross-bracing.
Preserving the Redlands’ heritage
There is a terrible disconnect in Redland City Council processes when a building that is under consideration for a heritage listing is able to have a demolition order signed off against it.
In the information put out for public consultation in late 2020 the Council noted that one of the properties proposed for heritage listing had been removed from site.
Once a property is removed from its original site it loses its heritage value.
Why didn’t the Council institute a temporary local planning instrument to ensure that properties with assessed heritage significance were not demolished prior to the Council making a final decision about inclusion of properties on its local heritage register?
In 2015 another Redlands property with heritage significance, the Willard’s Farm cottage, was saved from demolition when the State Government imposed a stop order under Queensland’s Heritage Act.
Redlands2030 – 9 January 2021
UPDATES since this story was first published
Aerial photos sourced from QImagery show how this property looked in years gone by.
Other news media stories about this property
After this story was published by Redlands2030 on 9 January 2021, stories were published by other local news media:
“Historic Point House set for demolition”, Redland City Bulletin – published 12 January 2021 (and updated on 16 January 2021)
“Anger as historic cottage destined for demolition”, Judith Kerr, Quest/Courier Mail – published 13 January 2021
State Government blocks demolition for 60 days
The State Government has issued a stop order for 60 days using its powers under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992.
The stop order prevents any action being taken to demolish this property during the 60 day period.
The maximum penalty for contravening a heritage stop order is 17,000 penalty units – currently equal to $2,268,650.
A statement published by Redland City Council says that the stop order was requested by Mayor Karen Williams.
16 January 2021
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7 Comments
It’s apparent Redland Council has no interest in retaining heritage places of interest. I’ve seen specially protected places destroyed for development should developer with deep pockets want it. Zoning can be changed overnight and has been, to suit the particular industry required…leaving locals to live with resulting degradation as best they can. No dwelling in Brisbane built prior to WWII, can be demolished for personal gain. My view is that a developer-run local government only see what can be gained in revenue wherever an age old dwelling still stands.
Next to Whepstead House: this is about the only colonial Heritage that Wellington Point has to offer. I beg to any merciful ears who can hear: THE REDLANDS NEEDS TO PRESERVE IT’S HERITAGE BEFORE IT’S LOST FOREVER!
-a local National Trust Member.
What part of HERITAGE is not understood ?
By the end of next week this Victorian era building is likely to be razed to the ground. The quality and size of the timber in the building hails from a time when hardwood was plentiful. The house isn’t rotten, just the verandah. I have been told by two independent sources that this was the Wellington Point station master’s house. Apparently this needs further research to verify. Such a waste…
I doubt that when the proposed medium density residental development reaches its end of life, sometime deep in the future, that anyone will shed a tear about it’s charm or heritage value.
The rate of progress to demolish the old building is much faster than the speed of the Council’s ability to save something of heritage value. Of course Council itself could seek interim protection under the Heritage Act and take time to consider options. It does seem the building is worthy of a chance of protection!
Unbelievable. How to destroy Australia’s heritage. This Redlands Council is showing no respect or value for our past. Money takes precedence again.
This council administration has no interest in protecting the heritage of the Redlands. It is all about looking after the developers.