The historic childhood home of AC/DC founders Malcolm and Angus Young was demolished by developers in December 2024 as part of a multi-million-dollar residential development project.
Burwood Square Pty Ltd purchased the single-family home at 4 Burleigh Street in the Burwood suburb and other adjacent properties for $5.8 million in 2023. At the time of the purchase, the house was being rented out. Despite being listed on the National Trust List of Historic Homes in 2013, the developers quietly bulldozed the property in recent weeks to make way for a planned $28.75 million residential site.
The bulldozing of the property triggered a widespread backlash among fans of the group. The house held immense cultural significance as the place where the brothers lived after migrating from Scotland in 1965 and where they laid the foundation for forming AC/DC in 1973. The property was also tied to their older brother, George Young, a member of the Easybeats, who influenced their musical journey.
How Did the Developers Respond to the Backlash?
In a statement, Burwood Square General Manager Leon Kamita apologized for the accidental razing of the property. However, Kamita noted that they were unaware of the home's historical significance until it was bulldozed.
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"As we developed plans for this space, we conducted due diligence, including consulting heritage registers and collaborating with experts in the field," he said. "Unfortunately, the historical connection was not identified at that stage, and we regret the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property's background with us."
The local council also stressed that while the house was listed on the National Trust, the organization has no statutory authority to impose enforceable protections on the property as it was a community-based initiative.
Salvaging the Property
Despite not being able to salvage the house, Kamita noted that Burwood Square is working to salvage materials from the AC/DC house to create a cafe or live music venue honoring the band's legacy.
Malcolm and George passed away in 2019, but Angus, 69, is still touring with AC/DC. The band has shows scheduled in April and May of this year.
