A home in the nation’s capital, built in 1893, is the latest home to be demolished due to the presence of Mr Fluffy asbestos fill. The property, the heritage-listed “Deasland’ homestead, has been reduced to rubble.
The owners, who had been living in the home for 46 years when the asbestos was discovered, were unaware of when they originally purchased the property.
It was cleaned as part of the large-scale government asbestos inspection project after its owners insisted on it. It was cleaned again in the 1990s as part of the large-scale Commonwealth inspection program.
However, it wasn’t enough of an ‘enduring solution’, and it was earmarked for demolition in 2014.
“Meter readings were taken … and there was very little [asbestos] actually showed up, but I suppose as we know now that it only takes one minuscule piece to cause some damage,” the owner explained to ABC News.
The signage on the fence outside the property reads: “Unfortunately, this house has to be removed due to Mr Fluffy asbestos. It is not our preference to demolish the house. It is out of our control.”
Deasland is the oldest heritage property with loose-fill asbestos insulation to be demolished. Its owners attempted to save part of the property, or at least a plaque to recognise the history of the property but the Asbestos Response Taskforce declined.