'The Gables' in Thirroul faces wrecking ball: out with the old as future build goes on sale

The 1953 brick house on Lawrence Hargrave Drive, also known as the "Yours and Owls house" because it's where the Wollongong music promotion company started out, will be demolished soon so construction can start.

While the new homes would each three levels of living space, there are garages beneath at street level, set to be completed early 2022, agents say.

"Sprawled across 4 levels, each property is serviced by a lift for easy, everyday living," the sales notes boast.

Read more: Thirroul Plaza told to withdraw development application or risk its rejection

Wollongong City Council's Heritage Officer last year found "no significant issues were raised on the heritage significance of the dwelling and the stone wall fronting the site, or their retention".

Eleven submissions were received on the plans, mostly concerned the development did not comply with planning controls over setbacks and floor space, would worsen traffic, damage heritage structures, and wouldn't suit the village character of Thirroul.

Council planners found these concerns unwarranted and recommended approval to the Wollongong Local Planning Panel late last year. They found the plans did not comply with setback and floor space planning controls, but these could be forgiven with conditions.

Read more: Council busy not listening to advice on Thirroul traffic

"The departure [from planning rules] is the practical result of the unique nature of the site, elevated above street level with an upslope," the assessment report stated.

"The design aims to achieve maximum yield at the same time providing better amenities within the units."

The developer is Illawarra Property Holdings, a company owned by Austinmer builder Mark Forte, of Genesis Building, and Austinmer developer Steven Hughes, the man behind the company Develop My Land.

The sales are being handled by Dignam Real Estate director Adam McMahon.

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