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| Music writer Glenn A. Baker described the demolition in Sydney's Burwood as a "disgrace". (ABC News: Jo-Yi Hsu, Supplied: Andrew Worssam) |
By Millie Roberts
The demolition of a Sydney home last month linked to Australian music history was subject to a planning law that local council said bypassed its approval. For six decades, the property at 4 Burleigh Street in Burwood marked the site that helped cement two of the country's most famous rock bands.
The Young family moved into the building in 1965 and lived there for 12 years in the city's inner west.
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| AC/DC producer George Young (far right) with brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. (Facebook: AC/DC) |
During that time, George Young enjoyed success with recently formed band The Easybeats, while Malcolm and Angus started up AC/DC at the home in 1973.
Music writer Glenn A. Baker told ABC News the significance of the house could not be understated as a "sacred" site famous artists would "turn up at" and draw crowds "like locusts".
However, as Burwood Council shifted responsibility for the demolition onto a state government system, angry fans have been left wondering why the house didn't warrant more protection.
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| The Young family moved into the Burwood property in the 1960s. (Supplied: Andrew Worssam ) |
"It was really quite, quite terrible what [happened], it's one of the most miserable things you've ever heard," Baker said.
"There are people that are really pissed right off ... I really think it's a disgrace.
"This should be a wake-up call, what happened in Burwood — the greed and avarice that's led to that house being destroyed should have never been allowed to happen."
Why did the house get demolished?
Developer Burwood Square Pty Ltd purchased 4 Burleigh Street and the property next door in 2023 to turn into a $28.75 million residential development.
A spokesperson for Burwood Council said it was not involved in the process or approval to demolish it.
"The owner, under state government Planning Controls, engaged a private certifier authorised to issue a Complying Development Certificate, requiring only two days' notice to council before demolition works commence," they said.
The spokesperson said council remained committed to finding ways to honour the area's rich musical history "including engaging in discussions with the owner of 4 Burleigh Street".
The ABC reached out to Burwood Square Pty Ltd and Excel Demolition for comment.
In a previous statement, general manager Leon Kmita said Burwood Square Pty Ltd apologised, and regretted that "the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property's background" with the company.
"We now recognise how deeply this location resonates with the AC/DC community and fans worldwide. We feel a strong responsibility to honour AC/DC's legacy and to make amends to all the fans who hold this band in such high regard," Mr Kmita said.
University of Sydney planning professor Nicole Gurran said complying development was a streamlined, "low impact" approval pathway introduced 25 years ago for developments that meet certain requirements.
She said the system helped address concerns about planning speed and efficiency.
"There's no particular sort of decision-making involved other than testifying that something meets the rules, that's why the state government is happy to allow private certifiers to essentially tick off on it," she said.
President of Local Government NSW Phyllis Miller OAM said the use of private certifiers to approve complying development was "an area of ongoing concern to councils and communities".
First published at ABC News, January 11, 2025
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