BLACKTOWN’S SHAME: THE TRAGEDY OF ROSENALLIS (continued)
When he retired in 1884, he built Rosenallis at 76 Richmond Road, Blacktown, on the corner of Kent Street, where he kept busy with bible study and tending his orchard and gardens. In 1911 Maria died from a burst appendix and was buried at St Bartholomew’s, Prospect. Their daughter, Florence, gave up her husband and moved into Rosenallis to care for her father. Reverend Hawkins passed away in 1917, aged 93, after a full and eventful life.
Florence continued to live in the house, taking in State orphans and caring for them. There are letters of glowing praise for the wonderful work and love she gave to those unfortunate children. One child she kept and adopted: Jack Hope, who, in turn, cared for Florence in her declining years until her death in 1950, aged 88. She was buried with her parents at St Bartholomew’s.
Jack Hope became caretaker for Blacktown Showgrounds but after he passed away in 2006, the house was sold out of the family.
In April 2008, an extensive heritage submission was made to Blacktown City Council for the house to be afford heritage protection under its Local Environment Plan. Unfortunately Council took no action on this submission for two years, by which time the house had again been sold. In a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing, the new owner was told that she could demolish the house, at the same time that heritage officers within Council were assessing its worth. The heritage officer eventually confirmed that Rosenallis had significant heritage value, with its associations to the showground, to St Bartholomew’s, to the church, and even to the Manning Valley. It was a rare example of a Victorian era cottage.
Council was now in a quandary, having told the owner it could demolish, and being urged by three local historical societies, including Mount Druitt, to preserve the house. It was also suggested Council purchase Rosenallis and the also the house at 70 Richmond Road, and incorporate them into its showground redevelopment scheme as a heritage precinct. Council, lacking any vision at all, declined to do so.
In the meantime Council wrongly gave approval to the owner to demolish the front verandah, which substantially altered the appearance of the house and contributed to further deterioration.
Council failed to address assertions made by the owner which were false, and failed to give weight to the three historical society submissions, as it was required to do under the Heritage Act. It arrogantly dismissed an appeal by the National Trust to save Rosenallis, on the basis that the Trust had no statutory powers – meaning, therefore, Council didn’t have to pay any attention to it.
Council even blatantly ignored its own Heritage Strategy Plan, which states it must protect and preserve the heritage of local buildings.
In September 2010, Council placed a temporary six month heritage order on Rosenallis, but failed to make this order permanent, thus ignoring the report of its own heritage officers. As soon as the six month order expired in March 2011, the owner made an application to demolish the house.
Council could still have insisted the house be repaired and retained, and a new dwelling built at its rear, but failed to follow up this alternative, as it was required to do under the Heritage laws. Instead, notwithstanding continuing protests from local historical societies and other individuals, Council approved demolition on the grounds that the owner would suffer hardship if she was forced to repair it.
Such a decision is a very dangerous precedent for other historic buildings within the boundaries of Blacktown City Council. It also proves that our Council provides only lip service to heritage and even ignores the heritage requirements of the Act, but also the advice of its own heritage officers and strategy plan, and the views of local historical societies and residents.
The demolition of Rosenallis, with its long and documented history, its associations with other parts of Blacktown, and its rarity as a Victorian 1884 cottage – possibly the oldest remaining so close to the CBD – is a shameful act by Blacktown City Council. It will not be forgotten by the local historical societies and other interested parties.
When he retired in 1884, he built Rosenallis at 76 Richmond Road, Blacktown, on the corner of Kent Street, where he kept busy with bible study and tending his orchard and gardens. In 1911 Maria died from a burst appendix and was buried at St Bartholomew’s, Prospect. Their daughter, Florence, gave up her husband and moved into Rosenallis to care for her father. Reverend Hawkins passed away in 1917, aged 93, after a full and eventful life.
Florence continued to live in the house, taking in State orphans and caring for them. There are letters of glowing praise for the wonderful work and love she gave to those unfortunate children. One child she kept and adopted: Jack Hope, who, in turn, cared for Florence in her declining years until her death in 1950, aged 88. She was buried with her parents at St Bartholomew’s.
Jack Hope became caretaker for Blacktown Showgrounds but after he passed away in 2006, the house was sold out of the family.
In April 2008, an extensive heritage submission was made to Blacktown City Council for the house to be afford heritage protection under its Local Environment Plan. Unfortunately Council took no action on this submission for two years, by which time the house had again been sold. In a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing, the new owner was told that she could demolish the house, at the same time that heritage officers within Council were assessing its worth. The heritage officer eventually confirmed that Rosenallis had significant heritage value, with its associations to the showground, to St Bartholomew’s, to the church, and even to the Manning Valley. It was a rare example of a Victorian era cottage.
Council was now in a quandary, having told the owner it could demolish, and being urged by three local historical societies, including Mount Druitt, to preserve the house. It was also suggested Council purchase Rosenallis and the also the house at 70 Richmond Road, and incorporate them into its showground redevelopment scheme as a heritage precinct. Council, lacking any vision at all, declined to do so.
In the meantime Council wrongly gave approval to the owner to demolish the front verandah, which substantially altered the appearance of the house and contributed to further deterioration.
Council failed to address assertions made by the owner which were false, and failed to give weight to the three historical society submissions, as it was required to do under the Heritage Act. It arrogantly dismissed an appeal by the National Trust to save Rosenallis, on the basis that the Trust had no statutory powers – meaning, therefore, Council didn’t have to pay any attention to it.
Council even blatantly ignored its own Heritage Strategy Plan, which states it must protect and preserve the heritage of local buildings.
In September 2010, Council placed a temporary six month heritage order on Rosenallis, but failed to make this order permanent, thus ignoring the report of its own heritage officers. As soon as the six month order expired in March 2011, the owner made an application to demolish the house.
Council could still have insisted the house be repaired and retained, and a new dwelling built at its rear, but failed to follow up this alternative, as it was required to do under the Heritage laws. Instead, notwithstanding continuing protests from local historical societies and other individuals, Council approved demolition on the grounds that the owner would suffer hardship if she was forced to repair it.
Such a decision is a very dangerous precedent for other historic buildings within the boundaries of Blacktown City Council. It also proves that our Council provides only lip service to heritage and even ignores the heritage requirements of the Act, but also the advice of its own heritage officers and strategy plan, and the views of local historical societies and residents.
The demolition of Rosenallis, with its long and documented history, its associations with other parts of Blacktown, and its rarity as a Victorian 1884 cottage – possibly the oldest remaining so close to the CBD – is a shameful act by Blacktown City Council. It will not be forgotten by the local historical societies and other interested parties.
The National Trust has stated it will be discussing the case of Rosenallis with the new Minister for Planning, in an effort to have heritage laws tightened and to ensure that Councils properly enforce them.
© 2007 Mount Druitt Historical Society
