"It's not a house, it's a home." The Kerrigans in the 1997 movie, "The Castle". The Moonee Valley Council has voted down an attempt to heritage list the iconic home from the 1997 movie The Castle, effectively allowing the property’s owner to demolish the house, if no one steps in to save it.
“The owner of the property has put it out there that’s she’s happy for someone to move it,” Mayor Andrea Surace said. “Maybe Film Victoria should take it on.”
Owner Vicki Cosentino told Domain earlier this year the house at 3 Dagonet St, Strathmore was “bad luck” and indicated she wanted to knock it down to build two townhouses. When Ms Cosentino’s application to get started was submitted, some councillors decided to fight for a heritage listing for the site.
The owner of 3 Dagonet St wants to demolish it or have it moved to make way for townhouses. Photo: Brad Teal Ascot Vale
An expert report given to the council concluded it should be heritage listed but the movement to save it lost, four to five votes.
Ms Surace said the argument surrounded saving the house was about a love of the movie and not the building. “It was about the significance and the cultural history of the movie itself,” she said.
The council eventually decided that there wasn’t enough value in keeping the property to justify overriding a private owner’s right to use her own property. “It’s in a dead end street around other residential homes,” Ms Surace said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a money spinner.”
Tenants have caused thousands in damages to the house over the years. Photo: Brad Teal Ascot Vale
Ms Cosentino wanted to get rid of the house because she said it’s caused her nothing but trouble. Problem tenants have cost her thousands in repairs.
“I’m sick and tired of it – everyone who’s been in my place has [done] nothing but wrecked it, and I’m sick of spending money on fixing it up,” Ms Cosentino said in July.
“I paid $94,000 for that house 23 years ago, but this house has cost me over $100,000 to fix so far, and instead of making money, I’m going downhill.”
Inside the Castle at 3 Dagonet Street, Strathmore Photo: Brad Teal Ascot Vale
In the film, homeowner Darryl Kerrigan went to court to save his “castle” from compulsory acquisition that would have seen the home destroyed to allow for the expansion of the airport next door. Ms Surace said the attempt to get the house heritage listed to save it from development was ironic.