Parramatta Advertiser, 28 August 20

The NSW State Government has rejected saving cricketing legend Richie Benaud’s childhood home in North Parramatta from demolition.

Parramatta Council had appealed to NSW Planning Minister Tony Kelly to place an interim heritage order on the 5 Sutherland Rd property to save it from demolition by owner Michael Younes who plans to build units on the site.

But late Friday, Lord Mayor Paul Garrard received the letter from the Minister’s office giving a firm No to any heritage order.

The letter said the house’s ``level of association with Richie Benaud’’ did not qualify it for special consideration.

``This house and its contents retain the ability to demonstrate the occupancy of that prime minister, his lifestyle, political views and projected image’‘, the letter said.

The Benaud home, where Australia’s most famous cricketer since Sir Donald Bradman lived as a child, was in the family until sold to former lord mayor and now NSW Roads Minister David Borger in 2003.

It was bought by Mr Younes in May and soon, afterwards, an application to demolish it for redevelopment was lodged with Parramatta Council.

But councillors and the community only found out about the house’s impending fate when the Advertiser revealed it two weeks ago after a tip-off from a resident.

Richie Benaud, who is as well-known internationally as a cricket commentator as he was an Australian Test captain, is regarded as Parramatta’s most famous person.

His brother John also played Test cricket for Australia and captained NSW before becoming a Test selector.

Council’s only hope to save the house was to have the government place an interim heritage order on the property.

Deputy lord mayor Chiang Lim told the Advertiser that he was ``extremely disappointed’’ with the government’s response.

``I will be seeking for council to negotiate directly with the owner to see if we can come up with some sort of solution to preserve the house,’’ Cr Lim said.

Mr Younes told the Advertiser that he ``would seek advice’’ before deciding what to do with the house.

John Benaud said he ``would rather not comment’’ on the government’s response until he had spoken to Richie and saw what the council’s next move might be.

Click here for the original article from the Parramatta Advertiser.