For over 60 years, the War Widows site has stood as a living legacy of sacrifice, resilience, and community in South Australia.

This is not just land.  It is a place created by women for the women who had already given so much.

War widows fundraised for 15 years to purchase this site in 1963—creating a safe, supportive community where they could rebuild their lives after loss. Since then, it has provided housing, dignity, and belonging not only to war widows, but to other vulnerable elderly women in our community.

Today, that legacy is under threat. 

The State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) has now refused the development.

This is a powerful win—and proof that community voices matter.

But the fight is not over.

Without formal heritage protection, this site remains vulnerable to future proposals. Right now, we have a rare and critical window to secure permanent protection and ensure this history is never put at risk again.

We’ve come too far to lose it now.

This site holds profound social significance:

• A rare, purpose-built community created by and for war widows.
• A symbol of post-war recovery and collective strength.
• A place of ongoing support for vulnerable older women.
   

It also holds clear historical significance:

• Buildings on site named in honour and directly connected to the legacy of:

1. Jean Rouse (Founder of the SA War Widows Guild)
2. Jessie Vasey OAM (National president of the Australian War Widows)
3. Jean Hogben (Guild secretary SA War Widows and later National President)
4. Erica Joyce Mobsby (Founding member of the SA War Widows Guild in 1946) whose fundraising work is commemorated in the Australian War Memorial (AWM) archives in Canberra.

• Reflects a crucial chapter in South Australia’s post-war history
• Represents a unique model of community-led housing that no longer exists today
   

We called on the South Australian Heritage Council to act immediately and continue to seek protection through all avaliable pathways.

We urge the Council to:

• Provisionally list the War Widows site while recognising the individual heritage significance of key buildings including Jean Rouse Villa and Vasey House.  Noting the entire site was “locally heritage protected” for 20 years until May 2025 on advice from the State Planning Commission – 3 of the 4 titles had protections removed in the dead of night!
• Recognise and protect both the site as a whole, and the individual significance of its key buildings
• Include the Jean Rouse Villa, Vasey House and the Bungalow at 2A Hewitt Avenue in that listing
• Prevent any demolition or irreversible changes while assessment is underway

Once this place is gone, it cannot be replaced.

Don't let the War Widows Legacy be erased.

This is about more than buildings.  It is about honouring the women who built this community, and ensuring their legacy is not lost to luxury, high rise, high profit development.

We ask you to stand with us.

Protect the War Widows site.

Recognise its significance.

List it now.

Sign and share this petition.

Following the recent Heritage Council decision, time remains critical to secure protection through review and other pathways.  Every signature sends a clear message, War Widows Legacy counts. Heritage counts. This place matters.

www.heritagecounts.com.au​

Facebook - Heritage Counts​

Instagram - heritagecounts