Photo: Redferns
The childhood home of Malcolm and Angus Young was accidentally demolished by developers who claim they were unaware of its cultural significance. The Young family moved into the Sydney house located at 4 Burleigh Street in 1965, and eight years later the brothers founded AC/DC in the very same house.
According to Australian news outlet news.com.au, the building was recently bulldozed after developers purchased it in February 2023 for $5.8 million. It was listed on the National Trust List of Historic Homes in 2013, but Burwood Square Pty Ltd say they were not informed of its significance before taking it down to build a $28.7 million residential site.
“We regret that the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property’s background with us,” Burwood Square Pty Ltd general manager Leon Kmita told news.com.au. “Learning about this connection after our plans were already underway has shocked us. We are genuinely sorry for this oversight.”
He went on to pledge that the team plans to salvage materials from the site and honor the historic property by erecting a “special space,” like a cafe or bar, where AC/DC fans can “gather to celebrate the band’s enduring legacy.”
“On behalf of the team at Burwood Square, I want to convey our heartfelt regret … we now recognise how deeply this location resonates with the AC/DC community and fans worldwide,” Kmita said. “We feel a strong responsibility to honour AC/DC’s legacy and to make amends to all the fans who hold this band in such high regard. While we cannot change the past, we are dedicated to celebrating this significant part of their story.”
“To the global fanbase of AC/DC, please know that we hear you, appreciate your deep admiration for this legendary band, and are devoted to making this right,” he concluded the statement.
Local business Utopia Records shared a scathing message about the demolition and shared before and after photos in an Instagram post, which you can see below.
Warning: Graphic language