THE imminent demolition of an old building in Queanbeyan is angering some local residents.
Number 10 Rutledge Street, adjacent to the Queanbeyan Library – was originally a post-war block of flats – but Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) has owned and used the building for many years.
It is being bulldozed to create access to a carpark for QPRC’s $74 million Queanbeyan Civic and Cultural Precinct (QCCP).
Although 10 Rutledge Street — which is not heritage listed — is being sacrificed, council says a number of heritage-listed buildings in the vicinity of the development are being preserved including the old Fire Station, Dutton’s Cottage and the former School of Arts building — the current Council chambers — on Crawford Street.
“These buildings will be retained and the design of the new precinct has taken them into account, with the public forecourt of QCCP designed to improve the setting of these heritage-listed items,” a QPRC spokesperson says.
But some local residents, angry at council’s decision to tear down 10 Rutledge Street, have taken to Facebook to express their concern at the loss of a local landmark.
“What is the definition of heritage in Queanbeyan? It looks like No 10 Rutledge is about to be demolished, first the trees now the house,” commented Maria Reid on the Queanbeyan Community Noticeboard.
“Wake up Queanbeyan City Council before this history/heritage is gone!!!” added Christine Marshall.
Whilst council admits that “as an older building”, 10 Rutledge Street does have “some aesthetic value” it has never been listed as a heritage item.
A spokesperson for QPRC says a Statement of Heritage Impact prepared as part of the development application noted that 10 Rutledge Street: “…did not contain heritage items and was not in the Queanbeyan Heritage Conservation Area but was located between two heritage items of significance – the council chambers and the old fire station.”
Council says it did not receive any submissions from the public — during the exhibition of the concept designs for the QCCP — about 10 Rutledge Street being listed for demolition.
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