Who is impacted?

The entire community of Torrensville and greater Adelaide stands to lose an irreplaceable part of its history and cultural landscape. The planned demolition of 7-9 Palmyra Avenue impacts not only local residents who cherish their historical neighborhoods but also future generations who will be robbed of a tangible connection to their heritage. This site, which once served as the St Ives Private Hospital and Tanderra Girls Home, holds specific historical significance for older Aboriginal women and the broader South Australian community.

What is at stake?

If this demolition proceeds, it sets a dangerous precedent for how heritage properties are treated in the City of West Torrens and potentially throughout South Australia. The home represents architectural, historical, and cultural heritage that, once destroyed, cannot be replaced. If we allow this, what’s next? How many other hidden gems will we lose to the bulldozer, all in the name of "development" or "progress"? We risk eroding the very character that makes our community unique.

Why is now the time to act?

The recent reapproval of the demolition permit in January 2023 and subsequent planning consent for 19 new townhouses on July 22 make it abundantly clear that time is running out. Public sentiment against this demolition is strong, as evident from social media comments describing the move as "scandalous" and "disgusting money-grabbing at its worst." Now is the time to galvanize this public outrage into concrete action. We must act swiftly to preserve not only this specific property but also to push for more robust and modern heritage protection measures.

What We Demand:

1. Immediate halt to the scheduled demolition of 7-9 Palmyra Avenue, Torrensville.
2. Re-examination of the property's historic and architectural value, including its past roles as St Ives Private Hospital and Tanderra Girls Home.
3. Revocation of the development permission granted in January 2023 and the planning consent for 19 new townhouses given on July 22.
   Urgent update to the Council's Development Plan to incorporate modern heritage review techniques.
4. Public consultation on the community's views about heritage preservation.
5. By signing this petition, we express our severe concern and objection to the planned demolition. We urge the City Council of West Torrens to act immediately and responsibly to preserve this irreplaceable piece of our heritage.