Bulldozing the childhood home: when is heritage a four-letter word?

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Rotherwood was in the news last week, described by the developer who bought it as “the shit that’s there”. It’s a bitter line to swallow for someone who lived there on and off for more than a decade. | OPINION by _biancah

Built in 1939 by Barry Humphries’ father Eric, and managed by the Humphries family until its recent sale to developers, Rotherwood is nine apartments – three up and three across. Fronted by an enormous elm, the rear is dominated by a full-sized grass tennis court.Walking down the rear wooden stairs from the top flat was an act of loyalty and courage. The staircase swayed with every step.

When my colleague Clay Lucas sent the photograph of Rotherwood around last week, saying he was planning to write about plans to demolish it and build luxury townhouses in its place, my stomach dropped. It wasn’t to be. Instead, the developer wants to get rid of the ‘shit that’s there’ and replace it with metal cladding. Oh, the irony.

Too often, Branagan told Lucas, communities work with councils to prove individual houses or precincts are deserving of protection, only for requests to fall on deaf ears once they reach the planning department or planning minister.When I learned about Rotherwood’s looming demolition, I messaged a group of women I’ve known for almost as long as the block has been in my life.

 

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