Protection of Lucy Saw Home
The Lakeside Decision
On 28 April 2020, Rockingham City Council considered an application to demolish a locally-listed heritage place at 65 Parkin Street in Rockingham, known variously as Lakeside, Lucy Saw Home, Saw Home or Serenity Lodge (P03370). For many battle-scared members of the history community, cynically used to yet another lay down misere for a property developer when it comes to local history places, and well aware of the death-knell inherent in that dreaded pronouncement “unlikely to cross the threshold for entry in the Register of Heritage Places and therefore does not warrant full assessment”, this was a radical departure from the time-worn script.
Photo of Lucy Saw Home, C1930s, Copyright, Rockingham Museum
The Council’s decision speaks for itself:
Following the conclusion of the public comment period associated with the above proposal, the matter was considered by the Council at its ordinary meeting held on the 28th April 2020. Following due consideration of the issues raised within the submissions, Council resolved to refuse the application for the following reasons:
The building is classified as Management Category B in the Heritage List of Town Planning Scheme No. 2, and as such is considered to be of Considerable Significance worthy of built heritage conservation;
There is insufficient justification to warrant demolition, as:
the building is not considered to be structurally failing at this time;
the Council is not persuaded that restoration of the building is unfeasible.
Demolition of the building would be contrary to the intent of the Heritage List and the objectives of PP 3.3.21 Heritage Conservation and Development and SPP 3.5 Historic Heritage Conservation;
In addition to the above the Council has supported a Heritage Conservation Notice being investigated to require the property owner to undertake urgent conservation works to the building, based on advice from the City’s Heritage Consultant and the City’s Engineering Consultant, subject to the outcomes of discussions with the property owner.
Rockingham City Council is to be congratulated on taking such a stand – subject, of course, to any change of heart arising from the discussions with the property owner flagged in the final sentence.
Next time you are confronted with a seemingly inevitable loss of another local heritage place, because, you know, it’s “only local”, The Lakeside Decision can be your benchmark and message to all local councillors: this is what is expected of you now. Don’t be on the wrong side of history
This decision underscores the value and power of place, with the President of ICOMOS recently observing that heritage will be a cornerstone of human, social and economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and that economic stimulus packages should take into account the significant role that can be played to protect heritage, and the communities linked to it.
Information on the Lucy Saw Home on the Heritage Council’s Inherit Website outlines the history of the building in part as:
“The house was built in the early 1920s for the Saw family. William Saw was a farmer in the Armadale district in the early 20th century who regularly brought his family to Rockingham for holidays. In 1919, the family moved permanently to Rockingham and established a farm in a large parcel of land bounded by Bell, Parkin and Fisher Streets and Lake Richmond to the south.
The family originally lived in a small timber cottage before building this substantial stone home which they named 'Lakeside' for it was the closest building to the lake on this northern side. Local residents recall that Lucy Saw was unstinting in providing care for the community and her contribution was recognized when the Women's and Children's Refuge Centre established in the district was named in her honour.
Lucy and her sister Edith Frances Saw (c1881-1963) lived at the house until the late 1950s. Since that time, the house has had a series of occupants and the building has undergone alterations and additions, the most apparent the enclosure of the verandahs.”
http://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/Details/609870b4-36d8-419d-b8d4-012d47ddaf61