Bayswater’s historical societies are irked their city is being portrayed as heritage-unfriendly by the Mount Lawley Society and Stirling city council.
Under the proposed Barnett council amalgamations, Mt Lawley will become part of a new Bayswater-Bassendean super council.
The MLS wants Mt Lawley to stay in Stirling, because it has heritage protection areas, and has been campaigning on the slogan “Don’t make Bayswater your future! It could ruin your heritage!!”
Maylands Historical Society president Terry Gaunt says Stirling council is no heritage paragon and didn’t do much when it controlled Maylands.
“I’m really disappointed when I read the propaganda attacking our heritage record—we are very proud of our history,” he says.
He reeled off a list of Bayswater council’s heritage achievements, including restoring Ellis and Halliday House, purchasing the old Senses building used by WA Ballet, funding the Maylands Aerodrome Commemorative Park and plans to restore the old Maylands Brickworks.
Bayswater Historical Society president Shirley Babis echoes the sentiments, saying the council lets the MHS and BHS use the old police station on Guildford Road and Halliday House, rent-free.
MLS president Bruce Wooldridge maintains Bayswater is not serious about heritage, particularly regarding the sliver of Mt Lawley it already controls.
“Stirling has a comprehensive heritage management program, including character retention guidelines, demolition by neglect provisions and a heritage protection area,” he says.
“We have over time requested Bayswater council adopt Stirling’s heritage policies for the part of Mount Lawley that currently sits within its boundary. However, there has been no interest. If Bayswater is serious about heritage, regardless of the current debate over local authority boundaries, it will implement this much-needed change.”
by STEPHEN POLLOCK
Perth Voice Interactive 
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