We suspect there’s more to come if current trends continue. The former Marian College site on the corner of Clinton and Bourke Streets is also slated to have villas constructed. In addition, work is nearing completion on units within the nearby former Saint Patrick’s Primary School site. Developers are catering to a growing demand for this style of living, particularly for retirees and business people, close to the city centre and smack bang in the middle of the heritage conservation area.

That’s not much comfort to Cowper Street residents who, understandably, want to preserve their streetscape. It’s not easy to see established houses bulldozed, especially ones there since the 1930s.

The developers and their heritage consultant are correct in saying 163 Cowper Street is not an outstanding example of the Californian bungalow in Goulburn. There are better ones nearby and elsewhere in the city. Moreover, this part of Cowper Street presents a mix of housing from 1880s and 1890s workers cottages through to 1930s and ‘40s homes.

But if this argument is widely applied, we will see the decline of Goulburn’s heritage stock, bit by bit. Time and time again developers argue that a structure is not “contributory” to justify demolition. Structural reports are also geared to the same outcome. 

So where do we draw the line? It comes down to a well developed heritage strategy that not only considers individual items and their importance but streetscapes. Goulburn is renowned for its picturesque, tree-lined streets, particularly in the inner west. They should be preserved, with infill directed more to expansive backyards if developers want to build close to town.

In this case, the proponents have come up with a good design that pays heed to roof pitch, materials and landscaping. At two storeys it will be higher than its neighbours but the land slope will mitigate. That’s the most we can hope for in a heritage area.

Meantime, surrounding the old Saint Joseph’s House of Prayer, the Catholic Church is undertaking a highly sensitive development that will have ultimate community benefits. It respects the 1907 former orphanage through a 50-metre buffer and ties in nicely with the outstanding conservation work that owners Maggie and Darryl Patterson are undertaking.