By KATH GANNAWAY
THERE is growing support for community action, and a lateral response by Yarra Ranges Council, to help preserve Warburton’s iconic sculpture house.
The Mail reported last week that Yarra Ranges Council has issued a demolition order on part of the Highfield Road buildings, built over nearly four decades by Bob Prudhoe.
Distressed at the prospect of compromising the house, widely acclaimed as an art installation as much as a dwelling, Mr Prudhoe said last week he would leave Warburton rather than see his life’s work destroyed.
Mail readers responded on facebook with comparisons to other famous world buildings, calls for a heritage overlay to protect the building from future threats, and for practical, hands-on help.
Mr Prudhoe said on Friday that he has been heartened by the support and people’s responses and was hoping some way could be found to satisfy the council’s safety and compliance concerns without destroying the artistic integrity of the buildings.
Warburton business owner Keith Simons was one of the first to put out a call for help last week asking people to register their names if they could help in some way.
“Boinga Bob (as he is affectionately known to friends) finds managing maintenance for his property difficult as he gets older. How about some community support through a friends group or some such thing… some practical support,” he suggested.
Mr Simons said it was unclear as yet exactly what the council’s concerns were, but said if it was about safety, it may be that some help with repairs and ongoing maintenance could help.
Mr Prudhoe said work on the house had slowed over the past couple of years due largely to his ill-health, but that a successful hip replacement had made a huge difference to his ability to continue his work.
“I realise of course that over the last few years it has got a bit run down, but I’m lucky to be living in the bionic age and very grateful for the surgery I had,” he said.
“I’m back on my feet now, and I am more than happy to fix it up.
“I certainly don’t want to give Council a hard time. I hope we can work it out and would be very agreeable to anybody who can help me do that,” he said.
The house, known by various names – Warburton House, Sculpture House, Boinga Bob’s House – has become an iconic installation featuring on tourist maps and brochures promoting the town, and world-wide through documentaries, life-style shows and press articles.
As a sculpture it has been studied by art students, some of whom have done major university theses on Mr Prudhoe’s work.
Mr Prudhoe said he has a meeting with Yarra Ranges’ Mayor Cr Jim Child on Friday and said he is hoping that people will also write to Yarra Ranges Council in support.
