A real estate developer has apologized for the demolition of the Sydney residence that was the childhood home of AC/DC founders Malcolm and Angus Young, claiming it was unaware of its importance in Australia’s music history.
News.com.au reports the residence at 4 Burleigh Street in Sydney was the home of the Young family after they immigrated from Scotland in 1963. Malcolm and Angus’ older brother George co-founded the rock band The Easybeats in 1964 while the younger brothers created AC/DC in 1973. While the Young family had moved out years ago, it became a popular site for music fans visiting Sydney/
The house was acquired for $5.8 million in February 2023, but it was knocked down last month to make way for a 50-story building that will include 120 hotel rooms and 48 affordable housing apartments. Although it has been on the National Trust Register of Historic Houses in 2013, that did not protect it from demolition.
“As it is not heritage listed or protected under local or state legislation, and because The National Trust is a community-based, non-government organization, with no statutory authority, the property does not have enforceable protections,” said a spokesperson for the Burwood Council, the local municipal governing body.
The developer responsible for the demolition, Burwood Square, is claiming that it was unaware of the property’s historic value, despite conducting due diligence on the site and the presence of a mural of Malcolm and Angus Young on an adjacent property.
“Unfortunately, the historical connection to AC/DC was not identified, and we regret the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property’s background with us,” said General Manager Leon Kamita in an interview with 9Now.com. “We are genuinely sorry for this oversight.”
Kamita added the company will seek to collaborate with the Young family on a tribute to their music contributions within the new development.
Photo courtesy of Burwood Council
