Perth History chair says Albany’s Norman House to be nominated for assessment on State Heritage Register

The chair of the Perth History Association has signalled his intent to have Albany’s Norman House nominated for inclusion on the State’s Heritage Register. A proposal to demolish the Stirling Terrace building has caused concern among sections of the Albany community that believe it should be refurbished. The 1858 building had several significant alternations between the 1930s and 1980s and has sat unused for several years since being used as student accommodation. It is included on the City of Albany’s heritage list as having considerable significance, but has never been assessed by the State Heritage Council. Plans by Advance Housing to have the building demolished and replaced a new six-dwelling building have sparked those that would like to see it preserved into action during an ongoing public comment period set to end Monday. PHA chair Reece Harley told the Advertiser last week he would nominate the property for assessment by the State Heritage Council. He said the building had never been examined for inclusion on the register because in 2004 it was deemed to not warrant assessment. “I think in 2004 when they made that decision it would have been based on the fact the property was a category B place, not a category A place on the local survey,” he said. “It may have been assessed from the exterior view at the time that it didn’t warrant assessment, but councils change and attitudes and appetites for heritage protection change. “This building is a significant historic building in Albany.” He said he had spoken to chair of the State Heritage Council and emailed the State Heritage Minister who he said “would welcome a heritage assessment to take place”. He said he understood there was a housing crisis and that old buildings were expensive to renovate, but “if the property is not suitable for purpose, perhaps they shouldn’t have purchased it”. “If it’s not suitable for social housing, sell it,” he said. “Sell it to another owner who is willing to do the restoration and used it for another purpose.” A heritage impact statement submitted as part of the development application notes demolition of Norman House would have “significant negative impacts on the authenticity of the place”. The same document also concludes the buildings aesthetic values “have been irreversibly altered over time”. They include the removal of an original veranda, rendering the original masonry with “a thick cementitious render” and external changes to the form and scale of the building. In a letter to the Advertiser (page 7) Jill Moir has outlined some of the history associated with the building and says putting restoration in “the ‘too hard basket’ is no excuse to cause the destruction of this building”. In another letter to the Advertiser, published shortly after Advance Housing announced its plans for the site in November, Linda Christy said there was a “164-year-old home that certainly would add value to this town that promotes tourism” beneath additions made to the property in the last 100 years. Documents associated with the proposed development of 25 new dwellings between Stirling Terrace and Frederick Street are available on the City of Albany website. The public comment period runs until 9.30am on Monday, September 25. The size of the development application means it will be considered by a Joint Development Assessment Panel rather than the Albany council.