Plan to sell Bronte House sets off alarm

The spectre of the sale of Bronte House sent shockwaves through the community before the idea was voted down at Waverley Council.

The proposal for reclassification of community land was raised in an options statement from senior council staff examining ways to increase revenue to meet current financial shortfalls.

Bronte House is our municipality’s most historic building and attracts thousands of visitors on its open days. In recent years, its restoration and maintenance has been achieved at no cost to ratepayers through an innovative lease agreement.

Significant restoration has been achieved, often beyond the terms of the lease.  Leo Schofield undertook unparalleled development of the gardens which made the property and house a showpiece, a standard the current lessees have continued. Indeed, the generosity and concern for heritage by the leasing families has ensured community enjoyment of the house and land.

Any sale of Bronte House would be an unthinkable breach of trust, ignoring the circumstances through which the council acquired the property.

In 1948 it was bought from the Ebsworth family who held it over three generations since 1882 after earlier owners had sold off much of the surrounding land. The family campaigned for many years to save the remaining land for the community.  They finally parted with it for a mere £4000, a fraction of the value of this large estate.

Council’s officially commissioned centenary book declared: “The Council’s motive in purchasing this historic house … was in order that it would be preserved for all time for the people and not meet with the demolition axe.”

To their credit, the current councillors unanimously condemned any notion of the sale. But the ill-devised options paper has served a purpose as a wake-up call to Waverley ratepayers.  Our rates only meet 28 per cent of expenditure, apparently the lowest in the state. This came about through the state government decree years ago that rates be capped below the rate of inflation, putting many councils in dire straits.

To maintain the standard of our area, we need to resume paying normal rates without resorting to selling one of the few jewels in our crown.

Peter McCallum is President of the Waverley Historical Society.