Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH lord mayor Lisa Scaffidi has again confirmed her long-held stance that if people want to save heritage buildings, they ought to reach into their own pocket to buy them.

Last year the Voice reported Ms Scaffidi’s similar sentiments about the Michelides Tobacco Factory, aimed at members of the public who’d wanted the council to do more to protect old buildings (it’s since been bowled over and replaced with lawn, with no firm plan for a replacement).

At the time Ms Scaffidi claimed her comments had been published, “out of context! (…dare I add again where Voice & Perth is concerned)”.

Tudor-style

Back then we requested the recording of the council meeting where she’d made the claims so we could compare them to our notes, but PCC staff refused to hand over the audio saying it was “only for minute-taking purposes”.

Now, the demolition of a grand tudor-style house in King’s Park, once owned by Premier George Leake’s family, has reignited unrest from people who think the capital city’s council should do more to save old buildings, and Ms Scaffidi has once again told them: Buy it yourself. “You can save her,” Ms Scaffidi told a heritage fan on a Facebook discussion. “Make an offer to buy it at market value and live in it if you are so outraged.” The 99-year-old home, on 10 Bellevue Terrace, most recently sold for $15.2 million.

We asked Ms Scaffidi if she thought the statements could be seen as out of touch given most of her constituency couldn’t just up and buy a $15.2m building. We also asked whether she still believed our story of last February was “out of context” given she’s reiterated the same sentiment. She did not provide a response on the record.

Ms Scaffidi has a personal stake in a hefty real estate portfolio across the city.

She and husband Joe did indeed buy a historic building—the old Grand Central backpackers—but it’s not in great nick.

by DAVID BELL