Gough Whitlam's old home

"Edward Gough Whitlam
Thank you for bringing my brother home from Vietnam.
Thank you for my university education.
Thank you for my health care.
Thank you for fostering the arts and giving me pride in my country.
You are honoured in China for being the father of normalising relations with that nation.
Born in this house, how sad and ironic that your birthplace is being torn down by an international investor.
Rest in peace."
(Anonymous tribute placed on wall of Whitlam's birthplace, with flowers).

Last Thursday demolition of 46 Rowland Street Kew was stayed by Planning Minister Matthew Guy with an "Interim Protection Order for the birthplace of Australia’s 21st Prime Minister, the late Gough Whitlam". Before the notice was posted, flowers were placed on the fence plus a tribute from an anonymous donor which speaks for many, reproduced above.

City of Boroondara's Submission to Heritage Victoria for Inclusion of "Gough Whitlam's House" on the State Heritage Register

Mayor Coral Ross sent this to me and said to circulate it as it is a public document. In my view it is first class and should be of interest to many.

http://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/-/media/Files/Your%20Council/Building%20and%20planning/Heritage/Heritage%20controls%20properties/Ngara-46-Rowland-St-Kew-citation-150514-docx.docx

See the listing of 46 Rowland Street Kew Vic 3101 on realestate.com.au http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-kew-115438563 What monstrous vandalism to demolish this house and garden for what undoubtedly was planned to be a wall to wall Mc Mansion. Thanks Vita for alerting us.

Report on Foreign Ownership of Residential Real Estate due in November 2014

The Economics Committee of the House of Representatives have delayed its report on foreign ownership of residential real estate, originally scheduled for release on 10 October 2014, now due sometime in November. There were a number of articles in yesterday's Australian Financial Review. It appears that information about the approvals system in Australia for foreign purchases of residential real estate has been leaking out in a positive flood. Speculation is that the committee report might be a whitewash but it is obvious that the issue is very serious.

On Saturday afternoon, yesterday, a Channel 9 news crew were at 46 Rowland Street Kew at Gough Whitlam's house. They said that they were preparing for a film on the above subject but were not sure when it would appear - maybe after the news on Monday 27 October 2014 - tomorrow.

See update here. Yesterday, Thursday 23 October, was another turbulent day in pre-election Melbourne as the fate of the childhood home of Gough Whitlam at 46 Rowland Street Kew hung in the balance. We were under the impression that the demolition of the house would continue so I dressed in black and went to the site about 1 pm with flowers to leave on the fence and so pay a suitable tribute to Gough Whitlam. (I called up lots of people as the Leader Newspaper said they would send a photographer.) Imagine my shock at seeing a media scrum in the street outside the wire fence with more cars arriving all the time. (Included at the end of this article are the NFIRB's guidance notes on foreign investment in real estate.)

Planning Minister Matthew Guy had just announced an "Interim Protection Order for the birthplace of Australia’s 21st Prime Minister, the late Gough Whitlam". (Hence the media) An application will be referred to the Heritage Council with a request to include the place on the State Heritage Register. The Minister's representative arrived and ceremoniously pinned the notice on the wire fence at the property. Channel 9, 10 and 2 were there plus the Age and the Leader newspapers . Thanks to Michael and Caroline Petit for representing community interests. A number of people turned up with a portrait of Gough Whitlam on the famous "It's Time" poster!

See the Age today 23 October 2014 by Mark Hawthorne, Clay Lucas and Nadia Wu. "Planning Minister Matthew Guy's backflip to save Gough Whitlam's childhood home."

See earlier Age article of 22 October 2014

I understand that under Foreign Investment Review Board rules, [See attached guidelines 2 and 3 at end of this article] a foreign buyer has two years to demolish an existing home to make way for a new dwelling. We have asked planning experts to investigate the current provisions for foreign purchase of residential real estate in Australia and the implications for the destruction of heritage buildings in our cities. The threatened destruction of Gough Whitlam's house has been a graphic example.

Action Alert: Someone attending the media gathering yesterday was told by workers on the site that they were packing up for the day but would return on Saturday to continue with the interrupted demolition. There is still a giant skip left on the site. (It was intended that the interior fittings including stained glass windows be removed.) Report any untoward work in progress to me on Mobile 0408022408 or Boroondara Police Station. I have mentioned to Boroondara Council these concerns. A number of people will be meeting at 11 am on Saturday morning on the nature strip outside the house to check out what's happening. So stop by! Bring a bunch of flowers to put on the fence. Melways Map Reference for 46 Rowland Street Kew is 45 H 7. There are few street signs so one can get lost!

Other important announcements yesterday in a day of planning madness include Planning Minister Matthew Guy's announcement that Royal Park (or what will be left of it after the EW Link is built) will be included on the State Heritage Register. We will be giving you more detail in the next bulletin. Also we are waiting to hear the results of Tony Murphy's Supreme Court action.

NOTES AND ATTACHMENTS

"Guidance Note 2 - Foreign investment in Australian Real Estate"
"Guidance Note 3 - Foreign investment in Australian Real Estate"