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The waste lands

1/8/2018

21 Comments

 
PictureThe former St Paul's Boys Home, Newhaven. Photos: Sam Brady
By Pete Granger
 
RECENTLY I visited the abandoned St Paul’s Boys’ Home at Newhaven. I was amazed at the beauty of the Romanesque buildings and chapel. No problem gaining open access. Doors and windows smashed wide open, graffiti, filth, beautiful timber fittings pilfered. Just appalling. I had to keep reminding myself these openly accessible buildings are listed by the National Trust and on the Victorian Heritage Database. 

I have since been advised by Newhaven locals that the property was purchased by Chinese property investors (a mere down-payment on the entire region given what’s happening also in Tenby Point, French Island and elsewhere). Given the complete absence of security and the shameful degree of neglect, there appears no real intention to rehabilitate these beautiful old buildings.
 
On the contrary, the investors may well be waiting for squatters to trash or burn them to the ground, or a meteorite to fall from the sky, or a wayward bulldozer to stray off course. Is intentional demise a lawful investor strategy for a building the community values and wishes preserved?
 
Which government (local, state, federal) is supposed to enforce the protection and preservation of “listed” buildings? If the answer is “none”, then why is this so? If there are regulations for such things, why are they being wilfully ignored and unenforced by our authorities?
 
At a broader level, Chinese investors now own three farms that encircle the town of Tenby Point. Surely, it is not mere coincidence? Two of these farms have been virtually decommissioned, and mostly sit idle. In a similar manner to the Boys Home in Newhaven. Too early to say what will happen to the third farm in Tenby Point, which has been recently purchased. Chinese investors have also bought the old prison farm on French Island. Thankfully, they are planning to redevelop it. 
 
I have nothing against the Chinese except for their government. Many of my immediate family, including my own children, are married to Asians. Other than politically, I am happily integrated into the Chinese Millennium. But Chinese land-banking of Australian farmland is another thing altogether. Particularly as ownership can involve some disclosed or undisclosed level of Chinese government ownership. Moreover, its government is active in extending its political tentacles to the Chinese diaspora in Australia. It has ways and means of exerting control, and is not shy to do so.
 
The potential risk is that the Chinese government directly or indirectly controls the destiny of Australian farmland. Just as they do elsewhere in the world. Presumably, they will do so in their interests, not ours. This is a matter of national more so than local interest, but it is not being adequately addressed in either Canberra or Spring Street.
 
The Chinese people are not permitted to purchase land in their own country. They must instead take out long term leases. Foreigners are not permitted to purchase land or businesses in China. The maximum foreign equity in Chinese businesses is 49 per cent.
 
By comparison, Australia is overly generous. There is a very strong argument to limit foreign ownership of productive Australian farmland to 49 per cent, or to apply long-term leaseholds similar to those applying in the foreigner’s home country. In a sense, a bilateral, non-discriminatory policy.
 
More generally, there should be strong disincentives to land banking, where otherwise good farmland is intentionally taken out of production. For foreigners at least, this could take the form of an additional land tax on properties relating to stocking rates or productivity.  It could also apply to non-agricultural properties such as the Newhaven Boys Home. There is no community benefit in foreign investors just sitting on land, refusing to either secure listed buildings or sell their property.
 
Similarly, it is not in the national interest for cashed up speculators to take good farmland out of meaningful production, and use that farmland as money in the bank rather than a means of production. This particularly applies to foreign speculators who have no great incentive to expedite development, and are otherwise voluntary or involuntary servants of a foreign nation hostile to our values and an increasing threat to our sovereignty. 
 
When it comes to land, Australia needs to take its cue from China. Adopt thoughtful long-term strategies that operate in both local and national interest. 
*****
Editorial postscript:
A Landata search reveals Phillip Island International Pty Ltd bought the former St Paul’s Boys Home from The Knox School in January 2016. The company was registered just two months earlier and is based in Mitcham.

The Post asked Bass Coast Council who was responsible for protecting the heritage-listed buildings. The council’s acting manager of strategy and growth, Noel Creed, responded:

“The Bass Coast Planning Scheme protects the Newhaven Boys Home, at 54-61 Forrest Avenue, Newhaven, through the Heritage Overlay. The overlay triggers a planning permit requirement for most buildings works and demolitions, ensuring that the heritage values are considered as part of the planning permit application process.

“The buildings are also listed by the National Trust of Australia, which is not a statutory listing and does not provide further protections for the buildings.” 
21 Comments
Ant
4/8/2018 09:16:37 am

I am so elated that you are giving this superb property and its buildings, and its history a voice, Hopefully it will be enough to save it. thank you

Reply
Julie
4/8/2018 11:12:46 am

I agree, Ant. The Bass Coast Planning scheme, for all that it promises, has done nothing to protect this site, as evidenced by its disgusting condition. Even a security fence around it would surely keep ongoing vandalism to a minimum. I know there is some sad history involved in the Boys' Home but I don't believe this is the issue here.
It highlights the difficulty of compliance with the overlay when the owners are overseas investors. The ownership issue raised by Pete Granger exposes an elephant in the room. Many people are afraid they'll be called racist if they speak about it. But there is now so much neglected land around Australia, neither farmed properly nor restored, wasting generations of hard work by previous owners. Surely our generosity with selling off Australian land to other countries has more capacity to create racial resentment than to dispel it. This can not be a good thing.

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Ant
4/8/2018 12:04:37 pm

I agree Julie - the vandalism is definitely not due to maybe a tainted history. Items of value have blatantly been pilfered. I think preserving this property is a way of honouring those who had experiences in such an institution whether it be positive or negative - it is part of their story a story that never should be forgotten.

Reply
Tony Pilcher
3/7/2022 11:07:07 am

I agree. This place should be preserved. I spent time there in the late 60s. It would be a shame to see it lost to vandals and such with no respect.

sunny
4/8/2018 03:05:51 pm

It is shocking that Bass Coast Shire has not done anything to protect this treasured buildings, I hope Pete has sent this article to all the newspapers so others can read about it.

Reply
Shane
22/1/2020 12:35:29 am

This building should be saved I visited the site and was appalled and disappointed with or government don't believe this could happen in our own country

Reply
Liz
4/8/2018 01:27:17 pm

I recently met an "old boy" from the Boys' home who attended Wonthaggi Secondary school and he seemed to have reasonably fond memories of his childhood. He would probably find it's current state a sad memory.
It could be so much more - lovely old buildings.

Reply
Tony Pilcher
29/7/2019 11:44:14 am

Liz. I was also in this boys home in the 60's and attended wonthaggi tech school. I may know this person.

Reply
Tony Pilcher
3/7/2022 11:09:23 am

I agree. I was there during the late 60s and attended wonthaggi tech school. I would like to know who you're referring to as l may know him.

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Christine
4/8/2018 02:56:44 pm

I agree with all points raised. The government should limit sale of land to foreign investors and conditions need to be attached to any such sale of ' valuable' land eg farmland for growing our food; as well as historical buildings to be preserved.
We've seen the result of landbanking on Phillip Island before with the so-called Chinaman's land being left undeveloped and then desecrated by mudbikes.

Reply
sunny
4/8/2018 03:03:58 pm

How sad and shocking. It really worries me that once all this land and property is owned by rich foreigners we will see Australia be slaves to other countries because we will not be able to buy them back. It has to stop. Why is it even allowed? Like the article states we cannot buy land in China. They are buying up all over the world and will be the next super power, that is their plan, and we will all be shocked when one day we will live by their rules, I fear for the future of Australian kids. Bass Coast should be doing more to protect this site and we need to put the pressure on them.

Reply
Pete Granger
4/8/2018 08:38:05 pm

Mr Creed's indicates comments suggest Council administratively protects the property by requiring planning permits for buildings works and demolitions, but fails to protect the property against intentional neglect. And intentional neglect is progressively destroying the 'historical values' as we speak, Surely Council can join the dots. If architectural heritage values are the principal objective, council must also ensure the property is adequately secured. Otherwise, there will be no heritage left to protect ! If there are no bylaws for this, Council should consider making them - preferably before the building is a pile of rubble, or torched to the ground. If there are current bylaws covering this, Council should immediately commence exercising them.

Reply
Cr Geoff Ellis
19/8/2018 02:31:51 pm

Hi Pete,

I have had a couple briefings with our officers about this, with another to come, and the brief comment I planned is evolving into a longer monologue.

Cheers

Reply
Susan Kinniff
5/8/2018 03:47:24 pm

I hope these buildings can be saved many happy memories of services in the chapel

Reply
Trevor Keatch
5/8/2018 10:14:43 pm

I was very saddened to these wonderful buildings in such a state. I lived and worked there for 6 years when it was St Paul's Discovery Centre and many lives were changed there under the guidance and inspiration of Digby Hannah.

Reply
Julie Luxton Dunn
6/8/2018 11:20:23 am

It is all about owning a piece of Australia.
The infrastructure is irrelevant. If anyone us interested in my story/experience please email me.

Reply
John Ridley
7/8/2018 10:20:31 am

But action is needed to protect the building, not just hand wringing - surely the Shire should be pressed by residents and the local media to get off it's bum and approach the state government?

Reply
Cr Geoff Ellis
19/8/2018 02:26:36 pm

Not a fan of the language John and council does things behind the scenes that are confidential due to privacy provisions.

You rightly mention the State Government and our planning scheme is legislatively subservient to theirs. Consider that the conversation you posit is underway. And hopefully Vcat doesn't become the final arbiter.

my email is geoff.ellis@basscoast.vic.gov.au

The building is in my ward.

Cheers

Reply
Cheryl link
3/12/2019 12:20:39 am

Hi Geoff
Do you know if this land and buildings were sold for an appropriate amount to chinese investors or similar amount to the nominal amounts favored by West Aust ?
ie: $1

Reply
Christine Lyn Smith
17/1/2020 10:29:38 pm

My husband and I walked around the old buildings today. It is quite shocking to see all the graffiti, all the windows smashed. It is a historic building and should be brought back to its former glory.

Reply
Elizabeth
24/1/2020 09:43:35 pm

Well, it's been 17 months since your last comment, Cr Ellis. Do you have any news on progress made to protect these buildings to impart, I wonder?

Reply



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