Press - 1995
POST Newspapers 17 October 1995
New heritage policy for Grove
Peppermint Grove home owners may have to research the heritage value of their property before calling in the bulldozers.
The shire council's new heritage policy requires residents who want to demolish and old house or a significant building in the area to complete a formal heritage assessment of the building.
The council said the policy was an interim measure until the shire had completed its municipal heritage inventory.
The shire has been widely criticised for its attitude to heritage.
Heritage Minister Richard Lewis has also criticised the shire for not protecting its heritage.
Mr Lewis recently stepped into the shire's affairs when mining magnate Mark Creasy bought The Cliffe (an old timber mansion) and asked council for a demolition licence.
Mr Lewis placed a conservation order on the property and last week protected The Cliffe by including it on the state's heritage register.
POST Newspapers 26 September 1995
Save your heritage, Lewis tells Grove
Peppermint Grove council should bite the bullet and get on with preparing its list of places and buildings to be saved, according to Heritage Minister Richard Lewis.
Mr Lewis has also written to the shire expressing his views.
The shire council has had the letter for some weeks but has not made it public.
Last week Mr Lewis spoke to the POST about what he said was his disappointment at a recent decision of the shire to allow the demolition of Nindethana at 34 The Esplanade.
(Nindethana is to be demolished by its owner, councillor John Black.)
"The shire's decision appears to have been made with little or no regard to the heritage values of the building.
"With regards to The Cliffe (timber mansion) it was reported that approximately 150 local residents were willing to sign a petition expressing concern at the possible demolition of this residence.
"This should indicate to the shire the strong feeling within the local community for the need to conserve those buildings which contribute to the special character of Peppermint Grove.
"I understand that the shire has not endeavoured to place any privately-owned buildings on its draft municipal inventory.
"It would appear the shire is the only local authority [in] the state to adopt this position..."
Last week, however, Mr Lewis said he would not intervene with the demolition of Nindethana because no case had been put before him.
"The council is no different to anyone else," Mr Lewis told the POST.
"I think any fair appraisal of the Peppermint Grove situation would see that I am right and they are not doing enough.
"I am not there to force the council. It's their heritage not mine.
"I would like to think that they would have the maturity and understanding to recognise heritage."
The letter angered councillors who said the letter unfairly criticised them.
Shire president Neil Cumpston said it was inaccurate and ill-informed.
Councillor Roderick Smith urged the council to reply to the letter.
The councillors agreed to write a forceful reply to Mr Lewis.
POST Newspapers 5 September 1995
Historic Home is back on the market
A Peppermint Grove property at the centre of a heritage controversy is back on the market.
Real estate agents are looking for buyers for The Cliffe in Bindaring Parade, and it could sell for just under $3 million.
The rambling 30-room residence was sold to millionaire prospector Mark Creasy in March for $2.6 million.
He sparked a row with conversationalists when he later lodged a demolition application with Peppermint Grove Shire Council.
Heritage Minister Richard Lewis slapped a 42-day conservation order on the property to stop it being pulled down.
The Creasys had bought the property at auction from surgeon Harold McComb on the understanding that it had no heritage significance.
Mr Creasy later informally offered The Cliffe to the council so he could go ahead with plans to build on the site.
The family had bought an adjoining block with a smaller house which they began renovating.
It is understood that this property will be sold later and could fetch just under $1 million.
In what has been described as Perth's biggest residential property deal, the Creasys bought a Chidley Way, Mosman Park mansion for about $8 million, in August.
The Cliffe was built [by] Scottish timber merchant Neil McNeil. The Cliffe was a showpiece of jarrah and imported wrought iron and was one of the largest private homes in the Peppermint Grove are to feature extensive wooden decoration.
It is believed the house needs extensive modernisation.
POST Newspapers 25 July 1995
Heritage still on hold
The Heritage Council is still unable to gain access to The Cliffe in Peppermint Grove.
The 100-year-old historic timber mansion, owned by mining millionaire Mark Creasy, is under the protection of the state government.
Heritage Minister Richard Lewis placed a 42-day order on the home, after the Creasys applied to Peppermint Grove council to demolish the house earlier this month.
The Heritage Council would like to inspect the house and assess its historical value.
Cottesloe Local News 19 July 1995
Owner of The Cliffe to sell out
Gold prospector Mark Creasy – who in recent times has had local residents, the Heritage Council, the local council and the media contacting him on the future of his house, The Cliffe – is to attempt to sell the Peppermint Grove property.
There has been much opposition to a rumoured demolition Mr Creasy was supposed to be considering for the house.
Mr Creasy denied he had ever proposed a demolition of the house – he was merely looking to have it relocated. He offered the house to the Peppermint Grove Shire Council but it had shown no interest in buying it. He said he would never have considered demolishing the house – if the Council wasn't prepared to buy it, he would have it placed on a property in the country.
But the fuss had become too much for him and he had decided to sell the property.
'We had no idea there was going to be any controversy about purchasing this site', he said.
'Never in a month of Sundays would I have purchased it if I'd known.'
He said the Heritage Council should make it its business to make sure that if a house was valuable it should be heritage listed. The heritage body shouldn't put people in the position he found himself in – buying a property, unaware there would be heritage concerns with the house.
'If there's going to be heritage listing of private houses – the Heritage Council should get out there and identify the houses', Mr Creasy said.
The Heritage Council's Alison Maggs said that the body had only been in existence for four years and it was a difficult task to list all important heritage buildings in the State in that period of time.
Ms Maggs said the Heritage Council had become involved after complaints from local residents that a demolition licence for the house had been applied for.
Peppermint Grove Shire Clerk Tony Doust said a demolition licence needed to be applied for when the owner of a property wished to perform a removal of a building.
Both the application for the removal of the building and the application for a demolition licence were rejected by the Council on Monday night. Mr Doust said the Council had little other choice as Heritage Minister Richard Lewis had placed a 42-day conservation order on the site, which prevented any work being carried out on the property.
Mr Creasy said he had no desire to live in a weatherboard house – and neither probably did "99.9 percent of the population of Perth".
Ms Maggs said she had some sympathy for Mr Creasy's position – that he had no idea what would be involved when he bought the house – but he should have been aware the house had already been listed as a nationally important landmark by the Australian Heritage Commission and the National Trust.
She said regardless of whether the house was sold, the Heritage Council would need to assess whether or not it should be placed on the Heritage Register.
Mr Creasy said if he couldn't find a buyer he would face that problem when it arose.
POST Newspapers 18 July 1995
Cliffe owners want to sell
Owners of The Cliffe timber mansion in Peppermint Grove now want to sell the house.
Last week Mark Creasy, who recently bought the home in March for $2.7 million, told the POST it had been more trouble that it was worth.
Despite Mr Creasy lodging an application with Peppermint Grove council, he denied his intentions had ever been to demolish the National Trust listed home.
“We informally offered Peppermint Grove council the house,” he said.
“We do not want it. We would have given them the house and they could put it on Manners Hill Park, or wherever they wanted.
“But the council told me it could not afford to relocate it.
“Now all I want to do is get rid of the godamn thing and get the Heritage Council off my back.”
“I suggest the POST, Councillor Helen Bunning (from Peppermint Grove) and anyone else who has anything to say about the house get together and purchase The Cliffe for public use.
UPSET
“We never intended for this to happen, or to upset so many people.
“All we want to do is clear out of this place.
“So if you can find anyone who wants to buy the place, just you let me know.”
Meanwhile the Creasys have shut the door on the Heritage Council.
A Heritage Council spokesman said that after the POST published a report on the historic home last week, the Creasys became very upset and refused the council access to the house.
The spokesman said Mr Creasy’s wife, Sharon, has previously indicated she would allow the council to inspect and assess the historical value of the property.
When Mrs Creasy applied to the shire council for the house to be demolished, Heritage Minister Richard Lewis stepped in and put a 42-day conservation order on the property.
The demolition of the house or any major works would be prevented before the Heritage Council has completed an assessment.
Mr Creasy became one of Australia’s richest men earlier this year when he was paid $117 million for his gold mining leases in the eastern Goldfields.
POST Newspapers 11 July 1995
Grove landmark under threat
Mining magnate Mark Creasy wants to demolish The Cliffe - one of Peppermint Grove's most outstanding homes.
He has applied to the Peppermint Grove council for permission to demolish the National Trust-listed, 100-year-old historic timber mansion he bought recently.
But the Heritage Council has stepped in and Heritage Minister Richard Lewis has placed a 42-day conservation order on the property.
The order should prevent the demolition of the house or any major works taking place before the Heritage Council has completed an assessment.
The Cliffe stands at 25 Bindaring Parade, on Devil's Elbow.
Until last week, the Creasys refused the Heritage Council access to the house.
But after the conservation order was effected and the Heritage Council further discussed the issue with Mr Creasy's wife, Sharon, the Creasys agreed to an inside inspection.
The inspection is expected to take place this week.
Mr Creasy of Daglish, became one of Australia's richest men this year when he was paid $117 million for his gold mining leases in the eastern Goldfields.
Award-wining Subiaco architect Marcus Collins recently inspected the home on the invitation of the Creasys.
Mr Collins recently won two prizes from the Institute of Architects - for his heritage restoration of Notre Dame University and his work overall.
He described The Cliffe as one of the most outstanding, exceptional residential properties he had ever seen.
Mr Collins is particularly familiar with the house. As a teenager, he visited his friend's grandparents, the Brisbanes, who then lived at the home.
The thought of demolishing the house "appalled" him. Much of it was still how he remembered it as a child.
"It's an essential part of the architectural history of the sate." he said.
"The house is in outstanding condition.
"It's absolutely beautiful. The original kitchen and bathroom fitting are still there." The walls, ceilings, skirting and tiling were largely original.
"Until the Creasys bought the property it was occupied by a family and it's in wonderful condition.
"If someone wanted to restore it or adapt it to more modern living it would not take much work.
"I've had a chat with the Creasys and get the impression they do not like the idea of living in a weatherboard house.
"But The Cliffe is so historically important.
"Neil McNeil, one of the original founders of Peppermint Grove was The Cliffe's original owner.
"The house's architect was Talbot Hobbs."
Peppermint Grove council is not able to give Mr Creasy permission to demolish the house while the conservation order stands.
POST Newspapers 27 June 1995
Grove support for nomination
Peppermint Grove Shire Council has not nominated The Cliffe for a place on The Heritage Council's Register of Heritage Places.
Instead the council will support a nomination by a ratepayer for the property's inclusion on the register.
The Heritage Council is still researching The Cliffe's history to find if it is eligible.
The Cliffe is listed with the National Trust.
POST Newspapers 20 June 1995
Heritage nomination for Grove's Cliffe
Peppermint Grove's historic mansion, The Cliffe, has again been nominated for a place on WA's register of Heritage Places.
The council thinks it is important the history of the area and the old 1898 timber home be preserved.
The house, on Devil's Elbow, is also listed with the National Trust.
The property boasts a summerhouse, servants quarters, stables and coach house.
The property was initially nominated for the Heritage Council's register by a concerned Peppermint Grove resident who did not want to see new owner, Mark Creasy, demolish the home.
Mr Creasy, a mining millionaire, has not made an applications to council to demolish the grand home but locals are concerned he might not realise its historical significance and bulldoze it.
The Heritage Council is still considering the nomination and the historical significance of the building before deciding of it should be included on the register.
The final decision on whether the house should be listed lies with Heritage Minister Richard Lewis.
In April a petition was signed by about 150 people expressing their wish to see the house preserved.
POST Newspapers 2 May 1995
Save The Cliffe, beg neighbours
Owners of The Cliffe have been petitioned by neighbours not to demolish the historic wooden timber mansion in Peppermint Grove.
The petition was signed by about 150 people over a couple of days - mostly people in surrounding streets.
Locals are concerned the new owners, Mark Creasy and his wife Frances, will demolish the house without realising its heritage value.
Mr Creasy, a gold prospector, has been described as one of Australia's richest men.
The Cliffe, on Devil's Elbow, is listed with the National Trust. It has also been nominated for the Register of Heritage Places, under the Heritage Act of WA.
Michael Betham, a registry officer with the4 Heritage Council said research was being carried out on the house. This would enable the history of the house and its heritage significance to be presented at a Heritage Council meeting at the end of May.
If the committee thinks the 1898 timber home has enough significance to come under the protection of the Heritage Council, the committee will recommend the house to the full Heritage Council.
Final permission to list the house with the Heritage Council lies with Heritage Minister Richard Lewis.
Mr Betham said if the new owners of The Cliffe decided to make an application to the Peppermint Grove council to demolish the house, the procedure of reviewing its significance for a place on the Heritage Trust would be fast-tracked.
POST Newspapers 18 April 1995
Grove neighbours fear for The Cliffe
The future of The Cliffe, the Peppermint Grove mansion which sold recently is worrying some resident.
The house, on Devil's Elbow was sold to a secret purchaser - believed to be Daglish-based mining millionaire Mark Creasy.
Some locals are concerned the house could be demolished.
Ratepayers have started a petition to be signed by people acknowledging the heritage value of the property and asking the new owner not to demolish it.
Shire candidate Helen Bunning said the timber house was one of the only Peppermint Grove homes still to have the main house and all the extra buildings of yesteryear surrounding it.
It still has its stables, summer house, servants' quarters, and coach house.
Mrs Bunning had no idea of the new owners plans for the house, but hoped he or she realised its heritage value and how much the community loved it.
"I would really like to meet with the purchaser," she said. "They are very lucky to have bought such a beautiful house. For all I know he could be planning to upgrade the house or renovate it."
Last week the property was nominated for the Register of Heritage Places, under the Heritage Act of WA.
Michael Betham, Register Officer with the Heritage Council of WA, said the nomination would have to be assessed.
Mr Betham said the Heritage Council could take about two months to decide whether the Cliffe could be included on the register.
The house was built in 1898 by Neil McNeil as a show house for the timber industry.
It stands on about 4798 sq. m.
The original house had 30 jarrah rooms.
