A 93-year-old Moss Vale property with historical links to prominent Bowral builder Alf Stephens could be subdivided if a development application is successful, leaving many residents and historians deeply unhappy.
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First built in 1927 by Alf Stephens for prominent Moss Vale storekeeper, Stanley Edward Gibson Browne, 'Karingal', is located on 26 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale.
It was recently sold in September 2021 for $1.75 million.
Two development applications have been submitted to Wingecarribee Shire Council.
The first development application 22/0535 seeks development consent to subdivide the land into two lots to build seven multi-dwelling properties.
The other lot will contain the existing 'Karingal' property. A second development application, 22/0513 has proposed a carport for the existing house.
According to the Statement of Environmental Effects report submitted to Wingecarribee Shire Council by Anthony Daintith Town Planning under DA 22/0535, the "proposed development is considered to be only of minor interest to the wider public due to the relatively localised nature of potential impacts."
Currently, there is no interim heritage order on the property nor does the property fall under a conservation zone.
However, a new action group has formed to try and preserve a slice of Moss Vale history.
The Elizabeth Street Action Group on Facebook, led by David Hayman, hopes to place an interim heritage order on the property before the block of land and its garden are destroyed.
The group has issued a petition through change.org asking Wingecarribee Shire Council to place an interim heritage order on the house. So far it has more than 600 signatures.
Mr Hayman, who lives across the road from the proposed development, said he had only heard about the interim development application near the end of lockdown.
"We went online and discovered all the details," he said.
"We feel very strongly about this and we feel that it will lose the character of a very significant and historical building and garden in Moss Vale and the Highlands.
"There's a lot of history associated with this particular building that goes right back to the land that was subdivided by the Throsby family.
"We sit opposite to this block and it is a delightful garden. It covers two blocks and we love the history and we are keen to preserve that."
Mr Hayman said the community was appalled at the possibility of the block being replaced by a streetscape of a double story duplex.
"The garden and streetscape are beautiful," he said.
"The duplex would destroy the whole vista.
"We are concerned that if this project went ahead, then similar projects would be up and down the street."
Mr Hayman said residents had gathered to discuss the development proposal after he put flyers in everyone's letterbox.
"There are 39 numbers in Elizabeth Street north, from those 39, there were 25 residents who came to hear what the plan was and to discuss their concerns," he said.
"People have jumped on quite quickly.
"I understand the council is already receiving statements of concern and objections.
"We aren't anti-development but this particular building in this location is just a slice of history in the Southern Highlands.
"People like the Highlands because of its heritage, they like knowing there's a bit of history."
The Elizabeth Street Action Group are also concerned that 'Karingal' is not part of a heritage conservation area.
"There are six conservation areas in Moss Vale and Elizabeth Street North is not one of them," Mr Hayman explained.
"We just think it needs to be a heritage conservation area."
Moss Vale historian David Baxter said there was plenty of history that surrounded the property built by Alf Stephens.
"Some of the parts of the building like the original dark brick fence is capped with Bowral Trachyte," he said.
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Mr Baxter said several prominent Moss Vale families had lived in that house since it was built.
"The first family that lived there was the Browne family," he said.
"Stanley was a shopkeeper, he had an all-around shop and then built a produce store on Lackey Road.
"On the side of the house, he had a great big tennis court. He and his wife Marjorie were very good tennis players and they started their own tennis club between 1929 and 1932 called 'Karingals'.
"They were really successful for four years."
Stanley Browne died in 1955 and the house was bought by his friend James "Jimmy" McAndrews three years later in 1958.
"When Stan died, Jimmy bought it," explained Mr Baxter
"He lived there until 1967, he died very young. His wife and family stayed there until at least 1980.
"After that, there was only one other family, Roger and Jennifer Manning, that I know of that moved and I'm not sure when that was."
The development application 22/0535 for 'Karingal' 26 Elizabeth Street, Moss Vale will be on public exhibition between November 4 and December 12.
Information relating to the proposed development can be viewed on the council's DA Tracker or by contacting the council's Customer Service Centre between 8.30 am - 4.30 pm. Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
Any person during this period of the public exhibition may lodge with the council a submission (either in support or by way of objection) concerning the proposed development.
Submissions must be addressed to the general manager, Wingecarribee Shire Council and can be made in the following ways:
Mail: PO Box 141, Moss Vale 2577
Email: mail@wsc.nsw.gov.au
For more information: Councils DA Tracker https://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/Development/DA-Tracker Click on the" e-Track" link.
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
