By Kath Gannaway
Yarra Ranges Council has refuted claims on social media that a demolition order has been put on Bob Prudhoe’s famous Warburton Sculpture House.
The unique house on Highfield Road has been at the centre of controversy for a number of years with Yarra Ranges Council in 2013 requiring works to be done to bring it in to line with council regulations.
The issue has reared again, with council forwarding a structural engineer’s report to Mr Prudhoe making a number of recommendations so structural repairs can be made, including work on one of the key elements of the house, the bay windows.
With fears that the report signalled demolition, a number of people have taken to social media calling for the house to be saved, and launching a fund to support Mr Prudhoe with the costs involved.
Responding on its website, the council said it had been working with Mr Prudhoe to find a way to reduce a number of risks and safety concerns around the iconic house.
“There is no current building notice or building order for the demolition of the Warburton Sculpture House,” the notice advised.
Director Social and Economic Development, Ali Wastie, said the council had engaged a structural engineer in March to determine the extent of works required to help the building meet the building code and regulations.
They included fencing off sections of the house until they could be rebuilt and removing sections that had significantly deteriorated over time.
Ms Wastie said council had been working with Mr Prudhoe to address a recent emergency order that required him to remove most of the fire damaged section of the site and do work on the shower/toilet block and treehouse structure.
She said the majority of those works had been completed.
“Unfortunately, some of the structures cannot be made safe due to the unconventional and non-compliant method of construction and the way they have weathered and deteriorated over time.”
Ms Wastie said temporary fencing barriers would need to be put in place to restrict access to those structures considered to be unsafe until they were made safe or removed.
Warburton builder Paul Mac has been working with Mr Prudhoe over the past year, and more recently with council to achieve a resolution that would see the Sculpture House made safe, and survive.
He confirmed that the council’s recommendations did not constitute a demolition order and said the plan was to begin a restoration project on the home and the artwork that is at the heart of the building’s artistic integrity.
“The plan here is to begin a restoration project of Bob’s home and the wonderful artwork that is his legacy,” he said.
He said the scope of the work was quite extensive and Bob and his supporters would be looking for community support and assistance, including financial assistance in the future.
“Everyone wants to see a really positive outcome here and I think it’s really important that we all work with council on this,” he said.
Mr Prudhoe was set to meet with council to discuss ‘make safe’ works recently recommended.
Mr Mac said a community meeting would be held in the near future to inform interested community members of the outcomes and recommendations.
In the meantime, a ‘Save Boinga Bob’s House’ fund has been set up. Visit https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/save-boinga-bobs-house
