Goulburn Mulwaree Council officers inspect former St John's orphanage

General manager Warwick Bennett made the comment after senior planning and compliance staff and a heritage adviser inspected the old Saint John's orphanage on Thursday.

The council has called for a structural engineering report on the 1912 building, following more fires in and around the premises.

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"We are concerned on two fronts," Mr Bennett said.

"One is that the building is a significant health and public safety issue and no matter how much we ask the owner (John Ferrara) to put up security fencing, people are still getting in.

"Secondly, the structural integrity of the building is something we need a report on and the owner needs to fund that."

The GM said a report with all the information would go to the council's July 20 meeting. It would most likely recommend demolition of all or part of the structure as part of an order.

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Staff believe the front section, fronting Mundy Street, is worse than others but how it affects the integrity of other parts will be covered in the engineer's assessment.

The council called for the same report after two major fires in the building on November 4 and 5, 2016. Mr Ferrara said at the time that the structural assessment found the former orphanage was "not salvageable."

Last Saturday, a blaze broke out in a former caretaker's cottage at the rear. Fire authorities said there was evidence of squatters living there. Early Tuesday morning, crews were again called to the premises to find a small fire inside the building, which took 90 minutes to extinguish and make safe.

Mr Ferrara told The Post he was frustrated by the continual breaches of security fencing, break-ins and fires. He said he wanted to keep as much of the structure as possible if a proposed apartment development went ahead.

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Mr Bennett said it was the owner's responsibility to keep people out and staff had been checking on security fencing ordered in 2016. However he acknowledged that if people wanted to get in, they would find a way.

"The heritage significance is paramount but the focus is on public safety because the building is a danger and the owner is having trouble keeping people out," he said.

"...We are taking it very seriously because of the orphanage's historical significance to Goulburn. We accept that some people have very bad memories of their time there and would rather see it demolished but it's a part of Goulburn's heritage and it's important to keep what we can."

He drew comparisons with developments that had incorporated elements of demolished onsite historical buildings and displayed a photographic record of them.

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Mr Ferrara did not attend Thursday's inspection. Council staff used their powers of entry.

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