Personally, I think it's an absolute travesty that a building representing such an important part of Eden's, NSW's and Australia's history looks set to be lost.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Australasia was built in anticipation of Twofold Bay becoming the port for the national capital after Federation.
Not surprising it boasted many outstanding features that few other buildings in Eden ever have. And most of these still remain in situ.
While I agree that the facade we see every day is entirely ugly and unappealing, the fact remains that the beautiful original Federation parapet is there behind that eye sore, so you have to ask why demolition is the preferred option. A quick buck?
In trying to grasp every opportunity to move forward, are we destined to keep repeating the mistakes of the past?
As Peter Whiter has constantly pointed out, it was only after the Eden Customs House was demolished in the 1960s to make way for bulk fuel tanks that so many locals realised just what had been lost.
Those tanks were going to be the big economic boost that the town needed - sadly that boost never happened, the tanks are gone, and we have no way of bringing the Customs House building back either.
Many towns people have repeatedly pointed out that Eden doesn't need a third supermarket; while others have said that some existing buildings could do with improvements to give the town a better image.
The fact remains though that the loss of an iconic building to replace it with a lesser one that could well remain empty is not a real solution.
Nationwide, especially in rural areas where public policies are causing the continued decline of our traditional industries, heritage buildings have a proven long term economic contribution to make, especially in the area of cultural tourism.
And like it or not, until someone comes up with a viable alternative, the continued demise of Eden's traditional timber, fishing and agricultural industries means that tourism growth must necessarily take on an increasingly important role in the financial survival of the town and our population.
Loss of the Australasia building represents very short term gain for what can only be described as detrimental long term and generational loss. And in terms of the condition of demolition that elements of the building be made available to collecting institutions or the public, I find myself asking why?
If I can compare "facadism" (or retention of a building's facade alone) to retaining only the cover of a valuable first edition book, then surely this must be like only keeping random pages of that same book - how are we ever going to understand the story that the book originally told?