THE FIGHT IS ON Cr Paul Tully has rolled his sleeves up to save one of Goodna’s most important heritage buildings.
COMMENT: WHILE our CBD is flushed with heritage buildings few exist in the nearby suburbs.
One that does stand tall is Carroll House on Queen Street in Goodna. The home was built in 1906 and was once the residence of the well-known Queensland family of John and Mary Carroll.
John and Mary had opened and taught at a day school at Redbank Plains from 1874 to 1909 and had seven sons and two daughters including their second son Edward John Carroll.
Edward was famous for founding the national cinematic chain of Birch Carroll & Coyle which introduced “talkie” movies to Ipswich, Toowoomba and other parts of Queensland and Australia.
The property at 16 Queen Street, Goodna was identified in the Ipswich City Council 1992 Heritage Study by the University of Queensland as of key heritage significance in the suburb.
Despite the home’s overwhelming historical value Ipswich Council last week, on the casting vote of Mayor Teresa Harding, voted to allow a developer to uproot the home and send it to Rosewood.
The developer had requested to move the house so they could build a KFC on the site.
Many shaking their heads in disbelief at the decision will be asking “is this deal now done and dusted?”
The answer to that is not by a long stretch.
The decision has incensed the four councillors who voted to keep the heritage home where it has always been and now Cr Paul Tully is leading a rear guard action to overturn the approval.
“Ipswich needs to respect and maintain its important historical heritage and the decision by some councillors to move this home beggar’s belief,” he said.
“It’s extremely disappointing that the heritage of the community has been pushed aside by the council in favour of commercial opportunities.
“Rather than moving the home council needs to protect and shine a bright light on one of the few buildings we have like this in the suburbs.
“In 2012 council recognised the importance of Carroll House and erected a heritage plaque (pictured) that sits at the front gate for all to read.
“In part it says ‘It was in this house that Mrs Carroll entertained guests of her sons who came from overseas. Harry Lauder, the Scottish coal miner with a ‘glorious voice’ was just one such guest’.”
Cr Tully isn’t one to take an important defeat lightly and is now marching to the gate of the Queensland Heritage Council asking them to immediately list Carroll House on their register.
If he is successful, the home will stay where it belongs and just a small part of Goodna’s history will be protected for life.
Goodna residents are already voicing their anger on Cr Tully’s large social media network saying they don’t need another KFC – especially one that would come at the expense of an historic home.
Timothy Carmichael, who lives two houses down from the property, posted that the house was “one of the most beautiful homes in the street”.
Simon Ingram wrote it was “ridiculous, damaging to our heritage and completely unnecessary.”
Another resident, Andrew Mirfin, said it made a joke of protecting heritage listed houses.
“To me that includes the site it was originally built on. By moving the house, it has no heritage significance anymore.”
If you agree that this decision needs to be rescinded ring the mayor and tell her your thoughts.
