Robin Boyd Foundation to sell Robin Boyd House 2
On 22 June, 2007 the Directors of the Robin Boyd Foundation announced their decision to sell the Robin Boyd House II in Walsh Street, South Yarra. The house will be auctioned on 21 July, 2007.
The house was designed and built by Robin Boyd in 1958 and since December 2004 has been owned by the Robin Boyd Foundation. The Foundation was an initiative of the National Trust in Victoria, established and operated in conjunction with Robin Boyd’s family. The house was recently awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects 25 Year Award and its heritage significance was recognised by inclusion of the house on the Victorian Heritage Register.
Sadly, the decision to sell the property has resulted from the Foundation being unable to attract major funding partners to support the rollout of various learning and activities programs and, importantly, to replace short term debt funding used to purchase the house in December 2004.
Over the past year, the Foundation has approached a wide range of companies, individuals and philanthropic organisations, as well as the State Government. In addition a media based expression of interest campaign was implemented. Despite these various initiatives, not enough financial support has been received to support the Foundation’s objectives.
It appears that the National Trust has to sell the house essentially because it has no money. It receives a paltry $246,000 a year from the Victorian State Government. Compare this to the $17.7m the NSW Historic Houses Trust receives from the NSW Government.
It would appear that the house will fall into private hands. Whether or not the Foundation continues with its learning activities and events programs would be dependent on the their ability to obtain acceptable access rights to the property with the new owner.
Few architects have made much noise since the decision was announced. However, there is one development that might give cause for optimism.
Earlier this year, in conjunction with the Robin Boyd Foundation, a network of owners of Robin Boyd-designed homes and interested parties was launched—the Boyd Homes Group (BHG). The head of the Boyd Homes Group, Nic Dowse, has also formed a save-the-Boyd-house weblog.
In Nic’s words:
We are people who give a damn about the loss of this house and the Robin Boyd Foundation. We believe there’s enough good will and commitment out there to save it for all Victorians.
Let’s hope that through the efforts of people like Nic Dowse the Victorian State Government, the National Trust and the Robin Boyd Foundation Board can get together and secure one of Australia’s mid-twentieth century modernist masterpieces for the Victorian public.
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