By ALESHA CAPONE
AN APPLICATION asking permission to demolish a heritage building in Sunshine, which was once home to a famous inventor, has been lodged with Brimbank City Council.
Western Health has requested permission to demolish a boarded-up and graffitied house within a heritage overlay at 129 Durham Rd.
The home is heritage-listed by the council as the former home of Headlie Taylor who became renowned worldwide after inventing the Header Harvester, manufactured by HV McKay in Sunshine.
Olwen Ford, from the Sunshine and District Historical Society (SDHS), said a booklet covering the area’s history – published in July – included two pages devoted to Headlie Taylor, his harvester and a picture of the house.
“It is very sad it’s in such poor condition, because when you think the house was built in the 1930s, that’s a building which is only around 85 years old or a bit less,” Ms Ford said.
She said the council would have a hard decision deciding the building’s fate.
“Because it is in the heritage overlay it is very important and does reflect the area’s history, we want the council to think very carefully about it,” Ms Ford said.
SDHS secretary John Willaton said in the past 50 years, the suburb has lost many of its historic properties.
He said Headlie Taylor house’s was significant to Sunshine’s heritage, but possibly in such a bad condition it would be impossible to retain.
“It’s quite a historic building in terms of who lived there and it was quite modern for its time,” he said.
“Headlie Taylor has a very significant place not only in the history of Australia but the world.”
A Western Health spokesperson said the building was “structurally unsound”.
“Restoration of the building is not an economically viable option due to its dilapidated and dangerous condition,” the spokesperson said.
“At this stage no final decision has been made regarding the future of the site.”
