WATCH: 125-year-old Chatswood fire station to be demolished
Do we need to let go of the past and get on with the future, or is this just senseless destruction of history?
Huw Bradshaw
August 13, 2025
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has given the go ahead for Chatswood’s 125 year old fire station to be demolished, against the wishes of Willoughby Council, so that an apartment complex can be built.
The developer, Novus, has been able to do this because the land that the heritage site sits on is actually already zoned for proposed expansions to the Pacific Highway.
How they got permission to demolish it is a different story. When this development initially came around, Willoughby Council asked that the facade be retained as part of the new building. Heritage New South Wales said in response that this wouldn't work practically, arguing that given the facade is a century old brick structure, it would fall apart.
The state government is eager to get residential developments like this through, as it helps them reach the targets set out in the National Housing Accord.
That being said, it does raise the question: if our heritage laws can't protect a 125 year old building with immense historical significance like this one, what can they protect?
Fun fact about this fire station: when it was built, Australia didn't exist. That's right. Given it was constructed in 1899 — prior to the Federation of Australia — this building is technically older than Australia.
Watch our full video here.