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Loddon HERALD Vol 5 No 26, THURSDAY JULY 3, 2025 ISSN 2653-1550
FIRE-DAMAGED HISTORIC SHOP TO COME DOWN
DEMOLITION ORDER By CHRIS EARL
David Oakley has agreed to demolition of the rear section of the fire-damaged after the facade (inset) was was damaged by fire and knocked down. LH PHOTOS
RUINS and the rear room of Inglewood’s historic Jennings Store will be knocked down and cleared within weeks. Owner David Oakley on Monday agreed to demolition of the 1866 building damaged by fire last August. While tests had not found asbestos in the rear section of the 1866 triple-brick building, Mr Oakley had faced a formal demolition order if the Brooke Street site was not cleared. Demolition crews knocked down the front section of the store after fire brigade volunteers had extinguished the August 29 blaze that closed Brooke Street for more than eight hours. Mr Oakley had continued to use the rear section for storage and running his long-time business selling chickens. “It’s triple brick and on bluestone foundations. I don’t think it would have fallen down,” Mr Oakley said after confirming demolition would start in a fortnight. “It’s sad that the rest of the building is going to be knocked down but nobody was hurt in the fire and no chickens were hurt.” He was rescued from the 1860s building by several nearby shop staff as the roof burst into flames about 3pm. Mr Oakley said he had ordered a shed to be erected on the site once the demolition has been finished. “That will be a couple of months away. There’s planning permit to be obtained too,”
he said. The long-time Brooke Street trader - he has been in business since the 1970s - said he may try to salvage some items from the store, including heritage timber doors. Mr Oakley has started moving stock and equipment into storage vans. A day after watching his store go up in flames, Mr Oakley was again selling chickens as loyal customers offered support.
It’s sad that the rest of the building is going to be knocked down but nobody was hurt in the fire - David Oakley
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