Never terrace apart: Neutral Bay locals push to save 117-year-old cottages

What is historic, and what is just plain old? 

That is the question North Sydney Council is grappling with, as it decides whether to put a stop to the demolition of six cottages in Neutral Bay.

During a meeting last week, councillors resolved to stand in solidarity with locals who are fighting to preserve a row of six Federation cottages on Bydown Street. 

A development application has been submitted to demolish the eight cottages, circa 1908,  to make way for an eight-storey apartment block. 

Glen Curyer, co-chair of a Neutral Bay community group responsible for providing feedback to council, spoke at the meeting on October 13 in favour of retaining the terraces, saying the homes belonged to “a different time, a gentler time”.

Curyer called for an Interim Heritage Order (IHO) to be put in place. An IHO is a temporary safeguard that protects a “place or object of potential heritage significance” while the site is assessed. Councillors voted to seek independent advice as to whether pursuing the order would be appropriate.

While IHO rulings can be made by local councils, Deputy Mayor MaryAnn Beregi claimed “we're already under the watchful eye of the Minister [for Planning]” and that “our ability to issue an IHO can be revoked at any time”.

Philip North, on behalf of the developer, argued against an IHO and described the cottages as “relatively unremarkable” and a building type “already strongly represented in the LGA”.

“They’re not rare, and they’re not particularly aesthetically or architecturally remarkable, albeit they’re quite charming,” he told the chamber.

He said the buildings had been significantly altered since original construction, and gave the example of Marseilles pattern terracotta tiles being replaced with Colorbond roofs.

Councillor James Spenceley cited a previous example on Paraween Street, Neutral Bay, in which developer heritage reports found “no merit” in a site that was later granted heritage status.

“We need independent advice,” he said.

Image credit: Stanton Library