THE Peter Lalor residential area is the only housing estate in Australia named an official war memorial, but the residents do not want the burden it carries.
Historical researcher Moira Scollay says when the post-war housing co-operative was built for returned servicemen, the government named it a war memorial. Her work on the significance of the estate has led to the Whittlesea council proposing a heritage overlay on the almost 140 houses, with residents given until July 17 to make a submission.
Long-term Station Street resident Ron Dzioba said the overlay could stop owners developing their houses and threatened to devalue their properties.
‘‘If the council wants to honour the soldiers of World War II, they can do this in other ways like naming [train] stations, shopping centres, parks and monuments instead of making private properties heritage,’’ he said.
