19 September 2025
The DA was withdrawn.
July 2025
There is a DA to demolish historic Ettalong and remove most of the mature trees on the property. The local heritage association has submitted an objection to demolition of 90 Abbotsford Rd Homebush.
HRG has made a submission: see here.
Resident submissions are due on Wednesday, 23 July 2025. Here is the link to how to make a submission.
For your interest, here are some resident submissions:
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed demolition of90 Abbotsford Road currently under consideration by the council. As a resident and owner of a heritage-listed property myself, I have spent significant time and financial resources future-proofing my home for generations to come. I have done this with the belief that our community values the preservation of its historic buildings. To witness the council even consider the demolition of another important heritage site is not only a personal affront but a troubling signal about the direction our municipality may be heading.
The recent decision by the Land and Environment Court to uphold the heritage value of the Bush’s home, even in the face of arson attacks, illustrates the clear legal and cultural importance of preserving historic sites like 90 Abbotsford Road. If a court can recognize the value of heritage in such extreme circumstances, how can the council justify a decision that could result in the destruction of an irreplaceable part of our community’s history?
For many of us who have invested in preserving these heritage buildings, this is more than just about bricks and mortar. It’s about safeguarding the identity of our community and ensuring that future generations can appreciate the historical richness that defines our municipality. If the proposed demolition goes through, it will feel like a betrayal to those of us who have worked hard to protect the past while ensuring our homes remain viable for the future.
As someone who has directly invested in the preservation of a heritage property, I urge the council to recognize the value of maintaining the historical fabric of our city. The loss of such landmarks would be a disservice to all of us who cherish our local heritage.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your response and hope the council will make the right decision to protect our city’s heritage for future generations.
Yours sincerely,
Dear Sir/Madam
You are probably aware of the DA to demolish 90 Abbotsford Road, one of the earliest houses in the street.
The house is in need of repair with the exception of the old outdoor kitchen which was incorporated into the house in the 1950s and used as a living room. The ceiling is falling down, the walls are cracked and the room is probably fit only for demolition. The rest of the house, except for the front verandah, a later addition, is totally livable and should be retained as part of the early Abbotsford Rd streetscape.
The once magnificent large back garden was bulldozed to bare earth in late January. This was a garden beloved by the Keddie family and was their life’s work from the late 1940s up until 2017.
It was a garden of trees and notable were two magnificent examples of Podocarpus Elatus. These trees fruit and seed only when two or more grow in close proximity and they fruited abundantly. Flocks of black cockatoos visited in season. I have lived in Abbotsford Rd for 44+ years and the only times I have seen black cockatoos were when they visited these trees or a row of pines, also now gone, at Camden Lodge in Burlington Road.
The garden also provided a nesting site each spring for tawny frogmouths who are territorial and monogamous. It was a rare privilege to see the fledglings line up with their parents on a low branch of their favoured tree, totally immobile and perfectly camouflaged.
This garden was a haven for birds and native wildlife and Homebush is poorer for its destruction. We had no advice re the bulldozing of this garden and I cannot understand how such total carnage was approved by Council.
The current development application also proposes removal of all trees in the front garden. One of these is another podocarpus to the left of the front gate. Anyone not familiar with this tree should visit it before it goes. It is as tall as, or taller than, a three storey building and to all appearances appears to be in excellent health. A magnificent tree!