I am writing to strongly object to the proposed demolition of the Federation-era home. This house would be more than 100 years old, is an important and irreplaceable part of the local streetscape and of our shared architectural heritage. Its removal would be a permanent loss of the character, identity, and historical continuity of the area. I own a residence very close to this development. Gladesville was no so long ago a beautiful and historic suburb with intact and beautiful Federation houses but this is being incrementally destroyed by these unsympathetic developments.
This development is clearly not about affordable housing and will not add to the stock of affordable homes in the area.
The existing house likely includes original timber, brickwork, leadlight glass, and other craftsmanship features that cannot be reproduced today. Its demolition would strip the neighbourhood of the visual richness and cohesion that Federation homes bring. One by one, we are losing the buildings that make our suburbs distinct and liveable, and this proposal is just another example.
There are also significant environmental consequences. This home has established gardens, mature trees, and natural grass. That green space cools neighbourhoods, supports birdlife, and reduces stormwater runoff. In contrast, the development will maximise building footprint, remove vegetation, and replace it with driveways and hard surfaces. This contributes to urban heat and worsens the environmental burden of already stretched suburbs.
This development will reduce amenity for neighbours, increase traffic and parking congestion, and contribute to the slow erosion of our community’s identity and quality of life.
Once a Federation home is gone, it is gone for good. I urge you to reject this application and to protect what remains of our built heritage — not just for now, but for future generations.
