One of the most consistent enemies of Historical Societies and those interested in the preservation of relics of our earlier days are the Oil Companies – those people who seem to have unlimited capital and a passion for building Service Stations wherever some fine reminder of the district’s beginnings has managed to withstand the passing of the years.
Sydney is now dotted with these establishments invariably standing on the site of something dear to the heart of these people who believe we can learn much by the preservation of the more important of these buildings and relics.
Last year our own district suffered just such a loss when the beautiful Iliffe House, Rosevale Villa, was demolished.
However, the Oil Company concerned has approached this Society for a photograph and details of the building which they can hang in the office of the B.P. Service Station which now occupies the site.
Whether this is an indication of a latent interest is the preservation of some of thin nation’s heritage or a sop to a somewhat uneasy conscience is not clear or this stage, but the fact that they have shown even the slightest interest in at least encouraging.
This article was first published in the June 1964 edition of our magazine.
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