Heritage at Risk 2010
River Murray Lower Lakes
and Coorong
The previously listed Lower Lakes and Coorong are in a dire state. Listed under the 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, this region remains in a state of emergency due to lack of freshwater flows. Two referrals by the State Government under Commonwealth legislation to allow saltwater to be pumped into the Lakes and to build a weir at Wellington remain in force; an Environmental Impact Statement for the former is currently being prepared. Saltwater will destroy the highly significant freshwater-based ecosystems of Lakes Alexandrina and Albert and with the hyper saline conditions in the southern Coorong, the region is at risk of losing its Ramsar status as one of the nation’s top six wetland sites.
AT RISK: Current market-based mechanisms are failing and Commonwealth Government intervention is urgently needed to ensure sufficient freshwater to flush the lower River Murray and to reject the short-sighted engineering solutions proposed.
Seventy three City properties
recommended as local heritage places
These properties are mostly houses in the southern residential parts of the City of Adelaide square mile and were recommended for heritage listing on the basis of meeting one or more of the Local Heritage Criteria in the Development Act 1993, by Adelaide City Council and independent Heritage consultants Donovan & Associates. However, the State Government Minister applied additional criteria over and above those specified in the legislation and removed them from the list before even going to public consultation. (Only 84 of the original 180 properties recommended by the Council were initially accepted with just another 23 to be considered in a 2nd part of the process). Already some of these properties are subject to development applications, while in other cases owners want them listed. It remains to be seen how many of a further 250 buildings in the commercial part of the city will be omitted.
AT RISK: The Minister has not adopted the Local Heritage survey recommendations.
Burra Monster Mine Reserve
This State Heritage Area, including 11 State Heritage Places (historic mining buildings) as well as highly significant native tussock grassland (121 indigenous species nearly a quarter of which have conservation significance ratings) is under threat from a proposal by Phoenix Copper Ltd to lift the current exclusion of the Mine and Smelter Sites from parts of the Mining Act in order to allow mineral exploration. Phoenix wishes to drill several geophysical anomalies located within the site and this includes the open cut, which would need to be de-watered (with impacts to local water tables and the Burra Creek).
AT RISK: The SA government has supported this proposal by allowing it to go to a consultation phase.
Torrens Island Quarantine Station precinct, Port Adelaide
This surviving complex of buildings is of immense importance to the Migration story of South Australia, demonstrating treatment of immigrants on arrival. The buildings of various eras and importance are restorable and suited to interpretation as a major tourism attraction. The site is subject to subdivision and industrial development, which is likely to require clearance of areas of intact mangrove and samphire vegetation, with potential wider environmental impacts on the Barker inlet and Port River ecosystem and particularly the Dolphin Sanctuary.
AT RISK: A regional Conservation Management Plan and consultation is needed before proceeding further.
Sand dunes at Tennyson and Minda
These areas of dunes are the only metropolitan remnants of once common coastal vegetation and are a bridge with the past. The primary & secondary dunes along the Tennyson coastline, varying in width, are at serious risk of degradation through construction of the new Coastal Park shared pathway, which has caused erosion further south. The Minda Dunes are the other surviving secondary dune system in Adelaide and are under threat from private development. Both sites are described on their interpretive signs as “fragile environments,” providing natural buffers to wave and storm action, containing valuable flora and providing important fauna habitat (eg. 52 plant species, 14 native bird species and 7 native reptile species) and appreciated by the wider community for their amenity values.
ABC Adelaide Report June 22, 2010
Coastal Ecology Protection Group
AT RISK: Threatened by an approved pathway and a proposed housing development.
Two attached houses at 321-5 Wakefield St, Adeaide
These deteriorating 1882 two storey attached bluestone houses are rare remnants of boom-style speculative building in the south-east corner of the city. Designed by German immigrant architect Gustav Joachimi they have slipped through a loophole and although now Local heritage listed, they are subject to a prior application. Joachimi was a Victorian Government architect, working on designs for Pentridge, Melbourne and Beechworth gaols as well as Victoria Barracks and Ararat Courthouse. Joachimi had established an architectural practice in Adelaide by 1876 and ornate Ochiltree House (corner East & South Terrace) is attributed to him. 321-325 Wakefield Street were built for J.F.D Langhans and remained in continuous ownership of Langhans family descendants until 1966. One descendant, architect Albert Langhans, designed (amongst other things) the original Carl Linger Memorial in West Terrace Cemetery, alterations to The Cedars for Sir Hans Heysen, and Quelltaler House in Gilbert Place for Buring & Sobels.
AT RISK: Subject to a current development application which means demolition will occur.
Union Hall, University of Adelaide
At the time of going to publication, this nationally significant modernist theatre by the important SA architectural practice of Woods Bagot Laybourne Smith and Irwin in 1958 meets three criteria for State Heritage Listing but still has only provisional listing as a State Heritage item.
AT RISK: The University has lodged an application to demolish to allow the construction of a Photonics building unsympathetic to its heritage neighbours. The University has consistently objected to the listing.
Adelaide Oval Scoreboard
The internationally renowned State and National Estate Heritage listed, Federation-era, manually operated scoreboard, with its historical context and its setting on the Hill, Moreton Bay figs and the cathedral spires which are visible over the northern end of the Oval, is presently under threat.
Adelaide Now Article June 13, 2010
AT RISK: Due to the design implications of the new Stadium complex, it could lose all sense of history, place and relevance.
Murray Bridge Waterfront and
Railway Yards
The Railway Reserve and Waterfront Wharf Precinct is an exceptional historical site, unique along the length of the Murray. It is the junction of road, rail and river transport systems in one location. The heritage area is extensive, containing many remnant buildings and transport facilities of Local and State significance. It also has pre-European significance as an Aboriginal site. In multiple ownerships, it has been the subject of a hotel proposal.
AT RISK: A comprehensive Conservation Management Plan is required to properly assess all competing interests.
Eastwood Lodge
(former Nurses’ Home) Glenside Hospital
An unique blend of functionalist and art deco design by SA government architect Stanley Ralph and team, this building is one of a handful of buildings from 1951-54It was built at a time of materials and funding shortages, and represents a new approach to attracting staff to deal with the major growth of mental health services after the war.
AT RISK: This provisionally listed modernist building will be demolished by the end of the year if not confirmed as a State Heritage Place.