Dismay over 150-year-old house being reduced to rubble

The recently-demolished Launceston home was built in 1870s. (Facebook: Launceston Library) A Launceston home built in the 1870s has been demolished this week, despite being considered for heritage listing over 20 years ago. Neighbours are upset to see the home destroyed for potential new development, saying it will disrupt the historic feel of the street. An email seen by the ABC states council will prioritise identifying other properties with potential heritage value to prevent the loss of other sites that may have fallen through the cracks. Link copiedShareShare articleThe demolition of a dilapidated 150-year-old mansion in Launceston, in Tasmania's north, has prompted questions about gaps in heritage protection. The Victorian-era home was earmarked for heritage listing over two decades ago, but was never placed on the State Heritage Register. The loss of the property at 180 George Street has sparked anger and disappointment among locals and one heritage advocate who labelled the destruction as "scandalous". The dilapidated home pictured in 2023 when owners were seeking $4 million for the sale. (Supplied) Prior to demolition, the Launceston City Council sought the advice of heritage Tasmania, which said the property "did not demonstrate heritage values at a state level and therefore was not recommended to join the State Heritage Register". A Heritage Tasmania spokesperson said this advice did not preclude the property from "demonstrating heritage values at a local level", saying "local heritage listing is a matter for the local planning authority". The Launceston City Council did not provide comment on whether council considered it for local heritage listing. Without any protected status, the permit for the site to be bulldozed was approved by the Launceston City Council, which said the owner was exercising their rights. Now, following community concerns, the council is working to identify other buildings that are unlisted, labelling them "potentially at risk". Julie Judd owns a neighbouring property and said she was shocked to see the house torn down in a matter of days. "There's no chance of getting any pieces of the material ... the pieces that were so unique to the area, we could have used to renovate some of the houses here," she said. All that remains of the home is a pile of rubble. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid) She said anything new built on the site would not fit the architectural style of the rest of George Street. "There's nothing modern at this end at all," she said. Julie Judd moved to Launceston to buy a heritage home on one of the city's oldest streets. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid) Ms Judd said "people have done a really good job in Launceston to keep this environment looking so old and that's why visitors come here". Victorian-era homes fill Launceston, with many George Street residences over a century old. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid) President of the Heritage Protection Society of Tasmania, Lionel Morell, said the destruction was "scandalous". "It's long been recognised by the National Trust as being one of the many hundreds of buildings in Launceston that had yet to be listed on the council's heritage list," he said. In 2003, heritage architect Paul Davies was engaged by the Tasmanian Heritage Council and the Launceston City Council to undertake the Launceston Heritage Study. The study summarised that 180 George Street complied with three of the seven criteria, with only one of them needed to enter a place on the Tasmanian Heritage Register. The house, pictured in 2023, had renovations approved by council in 2024, before being re-listed for sale in 2025 and demolished this year. (ABC News: Damien McIntyre) The five-bedroom property, which was advertised as a "landmark home ... ready for restoration and refinement", was sold in February this year. The Launceston City Council said when they received the application for the property to be knocked down, they turned to Heritage Tasmania to see if an emergency listing was required. "Heritage Tasmania subsequently advised that the property did not meet the threshold for state-level heritage listing and was therefore not recommended for inclusion on the Tasmanian Heritage Register," Mayor Matthew Garwood said. Matthew Garwood said council sought the advice of Heritage Tasmania, before approving the owner's request for demolition. (ABC News: Georgia Hogge) While Heritage Tasmania told council the property was not deemed to be of state significance, a spokesperson said this advice did not preclude the property from demonstrating heritage values at a local level. In an email sent to local councillors in March, a city executive states council aims to present a planning scheme amendment to the council later this year, to avoid a repeat of this situation. "It has now been identified that several unlisted properties, including places similar to 180 George Street, are potentially at risk," it states. "We recognise concern around this p

Dismay over 150-year-old house being reduced to rubble

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