Should older homes be bulldozed for multiple townhouses?
A Klemzig home held in the same family for more than 50 years is offering buyers than chance to create memories of gardening, preserving fruit and cook-ups around the kitchen bench just like its sellers.
But being on a block of almost 1500sqm, there’s every chance those cherished memories will be reduced to rubble as developers circle it to capitalise on the current housing shortage.
The home at 17 William Rd – built in 1926 on a 1484sqm allotment with a rare dual street access – was bought by Ukrainian migrants raising five children more than five decades ago.
And in that time they’ve forged strong memories, including these shared by the executers of the deceased estate now selling it on behalf of the five siblings.
17 William Rd, Klemzig. Picture: Supplied
17 William Rd, Klemzig. Picture: Supplied
“Day to day, the house absorbed the rhythm of ordinary life: early school mornings, the first days of work, shared routines and late‑night conversations,” they said.
“It was the constant to which everyone returned when the outside world felt uncertain.
“Within its three bedrooms and single bathroom, the family managed birthdays, wedding preparations and photographs, Easter feasts and large reunions where multiple generations found space under one roof – something that felt normal then but now feels increasingly rare.
“At the heart of it all was the kitchen.
“Their mother was a gifted cook who turned the garden’s apricots and cucumbers into jars of jam and preserves, and who kept Ukrainian traditions alive through dishes such as borscht and vareniki.
“Children and grandchildren remember standing beside her peeling potatoes, helping with summer bottling because their ‘skinny wrists’ could reach into jars, and opening the fridge the moment they arrived to see what treat might be waiting.
“The food mattered, but the feeling of being needed and included mattered more.”
But, with more houses desperately needed, there’s a strong chance this family’s emotional anchor will be bulldozed to make way for a bunch of modern townhouses.
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Selling agent Rachel Lawrie of Stadium Real Estate said the home had attracted enormous interest and offers even before its first public open.
“Interest is huge,” she said.
“People are coming from everywhere – investors, then we’ve got developers, then we’ve got homeowners who want it because it’s a big, beautiful block with dual frontage in a great location.
“It is an absolute cracker – I don’t know where it’s going to go, I have no idea.”
Were it to go to a developer, Ms Lawrie it could possibly be bowled over to make way for up to six homes.
“It’s up to the council at the end of the day, but they are doing splits with 8m frontages around that area, and you got big frontage so you could get possibly four along the front and a couple along the back,” she said.
“The house actually could stay, so if you want to do subdivision, you can still put more on there and keep the original house because it’s situated very well on the block.”
17 William Rd, Klemzig. Picture: Supplied
17 William Rd, Klemzig. Picture: Supplied
Ms Lawrie said councils had the responsibility to balance the need for housing with the need to preserve a location’s history, heritage and identity.
“I love character homes and I think they bring warmth to a street and they welcome you and make you feel part of a community,” she said.
“I think it’s up to councils at the end of the day, but they need to evaluate very carefully where they allow subdivisions in certain parts or suburbs.
“I get along main roads and things like that, but when you’re around beautiful parks and everything like this one, it’s nice to keep that little bit of a character.
“So yeah, you’ll see some new homes go up because others have got quite dilapidated, but they’re usually big beautiful builds.
“But trying to put multiples in that sort of area I’d probably be cautious of it if it was me.
“You lose that beautiful facade of the whole street so yeah it’s a hard one.
“I think in this area this is where you should try and keep that character about it – yes you can subdivide it, but be careful how it’s subdivided and what goes on the property.
“Everyone used to grizzle about Norwood, Payneham and St Peters council getting really strict on the type of property you could develop in the avenues and you know what, that’s all for really good reason, because it keeps that character of the old stuff that has remained, and if it’s dilapidated then they’re building something very beautiful that fits into the street frontage.”
She said the community support for the home staying had been strong.
“There’s a lot of people that have contacted me and they’re like, ‘we hope a homebuyer gets it because it is a beautiful home’,” she said.
The property is being advertised without a price guide and goes to auction on June 2.
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