By Oliver Lees
A Sunbury resident is concerned for the future of a historic homestead on Redstone Hill Road.
Originally built in the 1850s, the former Rankin Homestead is currently on land owned by development company Everley Sunbury.
Elaine Brogan OAM said the building has been regularly vandalised and should receive greater protection.
“It’s part of our Australian heritage and history,” Ms Brogan said,
“Here we have this wonderfully built property, with mature gums and entire works around it, and it’ll probably be demolished.
“The building is still perfectly intact with an original facade, it could make a nice community hub or information centre.
“It would be a shame to see it disappear.”
A 2014 heritage assessment completed by the Metropolitan Planning Authority notes that the former Ranking Farmhouse is included on the City of Hume Heritage Overlay.
Everley Sunbury team member Jarryn Raspey said that the land the homestead occupies was not not the responsibility of the developer.
“That portion of our site including the homestead has been designated for the Department of Education toward a public primary school,” Mr Raspey said.
“Also that building has been in quite a state of disrepair for some time, in fact it has been designated structurally unsound by an engineer.”
According to a heritage study conducted by the former shire of Bulla in 1998, the site “has remained uninhabited and has unfortunately fallen victim to lack of maintenance and the destructive attention of vandals”.
Hume council was contacted for comment.
