Perth Voice Interactive

THE prestigious Perth College — an exclusive private school for girls — has been accused of “heritage vandalism” by the Mount Lawley Society.

The accusation was levelled following Stirling city council’s decision to oppose the college’s application to demolish four 1920s-era homes inside the leafy suburb’s heritage protection zone.

“The demolition is contrary to the character retention guidelines for Mt Lawley, Menora and Inglewood,” said Cr Joe Ferrante, who tabled the motion to oppose demolition.

Leadership centre

The college wants to replace the homes with a sprawling, multi-million dollar learning and leadership centre for its senior students. However, the final decision rests with the unelected local development assessment panel, not the elected council.

And because the council’s rejection went against officers’ advice, demolition remains a distinct possibility

“Demolishing four side-by-side intact examples of homes from the 1920s is the complete destruction of a heritage streetscape,” says Mount Lawley Society member Paul Collins.

“I think its vandalistic and I wonder why the Perth College school community has not been more vocal, particularly when 24 Lawley Crescent, for example, was the home of Archdeacon Cuthbert Huddleston until 1944.”

Principal Jenny Ethell says the college tries, where possible, to re-purpose heritage buildings and had previously refurbished two on Queens Crescent.

“The properties are zoned for educational purposes but do not meet the standards for universal access for people with disabilities, nor are they of the appropriate structural integrity to enable being included in a new development,” she told the Voice.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK