End of the line for Railway Guest House?

Campaign to save historic building

Maureen Slapp and Michael Organ discuss the future of the historic Railway Guest House at Bulli.

By Mick Roberts

WITH Woolworths confirming they now own the old Railway Guest House at Bulli, controversy has erupted over why it was not protected as a heritage building on Wollongong City Council's Local Environment Plan (LEP) over a decade ago.

Heritage conservationists were under the impression number 4 Railway St was listed as an item of heritage significance under Council's LEP in 1993.

The confusion over whether the building is protected under heritage by-laws, comes as Woolworths confirm they purchased the former guest house as part of a plan to develop a supermarket, six speciality shops and a 155 space car park for a 13,400sqm site, bound by the Princes Highway, Molloy and Station Streets.

The plans would include the demolition of the 1887 guest house to make way for a car park driveway. The proposal has outraged heritage groups and historians.

Michael Organ said he was shocked to learn the building was not protected as an item of heritage significance on Council's LEP.

The local historian has a 1993 letter signed by Council General Manager Rod Oxley revealing Council had agreed to place the building on the local heritage inventory.

"With Woolworths planning to demolish the building for a driveway, we now learn that it's not on the heritage list," he said.

"I want to know why due process was not followed."

Mr Organ said the building was significant as it formed part of the historic Bulli railway precinct, which included the nearby station buildings.

Maureen Slapp, whose great grandparents built and ran the guest house, said she was disappointed that Council would consider demolishing the landmark building.

A retired school teacher, Mrs Slapp is leading a campaign to have the building saved and is gathering information to prove its heritage significance.

"I would like to see it restored, so it becomes a meaningful part of what heritage already exists in Bulli," she said.

"It would be a travesty for Woolworths to knock this important building over for a concrete driveway," Mr Organ said.

Woolworths confirmed they purchased the building as part of an overall plan to develop the former Cavions Scrap Metal Yard for a supermarket. The development is expected to create up to 245 jobs.

A Council spokesperson said a request to rezone land between Molloy and Railway Sts, which included the Railway Guest House was received in June.

The spokesperson said the building was not included on the heritage list in 1993 because of several objections.

"Six objections, including that relating to number 4 Railway Street remained unresolved in September 2004 and for the purpose of expediency& Council resolved to progress the plan and remove these six items to allow further review," the spokesperson said.

Woolworths' plans have resulted in Council finalising the review and a report considering the heritage significance, and the potential impact of the rezoning proposal is now underway by heritage consultants Godden Mackay Logan.

The spokesperson said despite the fact the Railway Guest House was not heritage listed, the building was within the Bulli Heritage Conservation Area and is subject to heritage considerations under the Local Government Act.