A rare, 95-year-old home at Thirroul will be demolished after the new owners used a private certifier to sidestep local planning authorities and 12 residents who had objected to the razing on heritage grounds.

Council was in the process of assessing the site’s heritage significance when the application was withdrawn and replaced by a private demolition certification. This meant the whatever decision the council reached on heritage would not matter. 

A Wollongong council heritage officer wrote to the objectors last week, advising the owners had withdrawn their application to demolish the building, after instead securing the necessary construction certificate through a private certifier.

The certificate was approved under the NSW State Government Planning Policy for Exempt and Complying Development and “essentially means that council has no ability to prevent the demolition of the dwelling on any grounds”, the heritage officer advised.  

“We are currently working through what options Council has in light of this situation.”

A council spokesman has since told the Mercury: “the available information does not present a strong argument for heritage listing”.

“It is legal for an applicant to use a private certifier for the complying development certificate.

“The applicant is acting within the law.  There is no pre-existing heritage listing on the property in question.”

The brick federation home sits on a double block at 57-59 Redman Avenue. 

The original development application proposed demolishing the house and outbuildings to make way for a modern two-storey home, complete with rooftop terrace, three-car garage, underground wine cellar, cabana and pool. 

The property owners have since lodged new development application, for construction only, with council.

Property records indicate the 1391 square-metre property sold to Skydive the Beach principal Tamahra Prowse for $2.78 million on December 17, 2016. 

In now-redundant submissions, residents called on council to reject the demolition of “a very rare house, one of the originals in Thirroul” and “one of the few remaining examples of quality and thoughtful design and construction of a diminishing era”. 

One resident, Ashley Stuart-Street, wrote: “The more of these beautiful old houses that are allowed to be demolished in the area, the quicker Thirroul will lose its charm and character, which is part of the reason people love to live and visit the village”. 

Another, Felix Allen, wrote: “This dwelling is held with great value to the community of Thirroul. It is a connection to the history of Thirroul and is in great condition from many generations of care. The desire for a modern and larger residence should not be adequate justification for such a loss of quality building fabric, both from a social and environmental viewpoint.”

Ms Prowse did not respond to the Mercury’s invitation to comment.