The Southern Heritage Trust in Dunedin is devastated by the imminent demolition of a historic Edmund Anscombe-designed home on Stuart Street to make way for apartments.
Despite strong opposition from the community and heritage organisations, including close to 100 submissions against the demolition, the Dunedin City Council approved the developer’s new application, which preserved a protected lime tree but not the house.
State media reported the council has been criticised for not informing community members and for having district plan rules that favour developers over heritage preservation.
The heritage home, built in the 1920s, was not listed as a protected heritage building, although it met the criteria for scheduling. Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga highlighted the significant heritage value of the house and the community’s deep connection to it.
The council acknowledged the oversight but explained the second application did not require public notification as it excluded the tree removal. The council also voted to support a remit addressing the issue of “demolition by neglect,” highlighting ongoing concerns about the protection of historic buildings in Dunedin.
These houses are damp, cold and not really historic – barely 100 years old. Knock them down and only save the real gems of which there are a few
Still not a reason to tear such a building down, especially if there are private interests to re-furbish, insulate and improve.
Deed it over to Otago Uni, and use it as ‘Student Accommodation(s)’…
They’ll tear the place up and then down in no time!
It is a bit ugly I got to say. I guess when old relics are few and far between we clutch to anything that’s built of real materials and not just made from compressed wood chips and plastic coatings. They’ve probably torn down all the good stuff already years ago.
This is happening all over New Zealand. It’s the global plan to erase colonial history.