A heritage villa sat proudly on the banks of the Parramatta River for 135 years but now hopes of it being rebuilt in a new location are in tatters.
The 1800s villa, Willow Grove, was set to be reassembled brick by brick at an alternative location after being torn down two years ago to make way for the Powerhouse Museum opening in 2025.
A new location for the rebuild was never settled on.
But the NSW government has ripped up plans to reconstruct the building.
“It’s a tragedy it was torn down, but to rebuild it now would be simply silly – it’s been branded fake heritage,” Arts Minister John Graham said.
Last month, photos obtained by 9News under freedom of information laws showed the remnants of the historic home stored in a secret western Sydney warehouse.
Heritage experts were concerned about the reconstruction process.
“This confirms what everyone’s been thinking, actually it will be impossible to reconstruct. We’ve just got a kit of parts really,” National Trust conservation director David Burdon said.
Even residents who campaigned tirelessly against its demolition didn’t want it rebuilt.
“It’s a Frankenstein and we don’t support that,” Suzette Meade from North Parramatta Residents Action Group said.
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“We feel there’s a better use of money in so many remaining parts of Parramatta.”
Now that reconstruction plans have been ripped up it has also been revealed the project wasn’t budgeted for.
“Money was not put aside for this use,” Graham said.
It is the latest in a pre-budget string of projects scrapped or scaled back by the government including the Powerhouse Museum rebuild at Ultimo, a new Penrith Stadium and the Northern Beaches Tunnel.
There is pressure on the Minns government to revamp other projects in Parramatta including the election promise to fix the closed Roxy Theatre.
“This is heritage in the heart of Parramatta, a key venue, we’re keen to look at this seriously,” Graham said.
The Powerhouse Museum will be used to keep Willow Grove’s memory alive by incorporating archeological relics and some of the original sandstone flooring.
A search is on to find another fitting place to house the other historic pieces.
“We don’t want to see Willow Grove’s pieces sitting and rotting,” Meade said.
