A property once used by Sir Donald Bradman for cricket practise could be protected from a proposed development due to its heritage significance.
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A development application for an aged care facility consisting of a 108-room residential care facility went before council in October last year.
If approved, the proposed development will be built by Lendlease and operated by Catholic Healthcare.
The exhibition period for the proposal has closed, however submissions are still being accepted.
In the meantime, there has been at least 20 written submissions and numerous ‘over the counter’ enquiries about the project.
Meanwhile Wingecarribee Shire Council gazetted an interim heritage order for a portion of the land earmarked for the proposed development on January 18.
The property known as Grantham, located at 33 to 35 Aitken Road in Bowral, was built by a renowned, local builder and former Bowral mayor Alf Stephens.
Alf Stephens built three out of the five properties covered in the interim heritage order.
Built in 1922, the Grantham property includes a concrete cricket pitch that was used by a young Donald Bradman during his formative years.
The property was also the long term residence of businessman and philanthropist Ted Springett.
The order will lapse after six months unless council passes a resolution before June 18, 2019.
If council deems the land to be of local significance, it can place the item on the heritage schedule of a local environmental plan with appropriate provisions for protecting and managing the site.
If the land is of state significance, council can nominate the item for inclusion on the state heritage register.
The interim heritage order covers a group known as the Aitken Road Bowral group, which includes number 25 to 27, number 29, number 31, number 33 to 37 and number 39 to 41.
Bradman Foundation executive director Rina Hore said she welcomed the interim heritage order.
“The Bradman connection lies with the strip of concrete he used to have lessons on,” she said.
“If [a heritage impact study] was to come to us we’d be within our rights to assist with the study and provide advice.”
Highlands resident Nick Corbett said he was excited by the news of the interim heritage order.
“It’s great news and I’m very supportive of it,” Mr Corbett said.
“The interim heritage order is a state of grace to do more investigations into what is the level of significance is.
Mr Corbett said the site gazetted in the interim heritage order was “a part of old Bowral”. “It has a lot of history, heritage and a wonderful streetscape,” he said.
“It’s important that we preserve that.”
Lendlease has been contacted for comment.