Developers have done the unthinkable, “accidentally” flattening the childhood home of Malcolm and Angus Young—the birthplace of AC/DC. The Sydney house was where the brothers formed the band that would go on to define rock n roll. Now? It’s nothing but a pile of rubble and regret.
The property was demolished in recent weeks, despite being listed on the National Trust List of Historic Homes back in 2013. Burwood Square Pty Ltd who bought the property last year claim they had no idea about its rock history. According to their general manager, Leon Kmita, this is all one big, innocent mistake.
“We regret that the previous long-term owner didn’t share this vital part of the property’s background with us,” Kmita said in a statement. “Learning about this connection after our plans were already underway has shocked us. We are genuinely sorry for this oversight.”
Oversight? That’s one way to put it. Fans worldwide, however, have a slightly different take, calling it an “utter disgrace” and a “sad destruction of music history.” They’ve got a point—this house wasn’t just bricks and mortar. It was a shrine for AC/DC diehards, a place of pilgrimage for anyone who’s ever blasted Highway to Hell in their car.
To make amends, Burwood Square is currently scrambling to salvage what’s left of the site. They’re talking about building a café or bar where fans can “gather to celebrate the band’s enduring legacy.” A nice idea, but it doesn’t exactly bring back the physical connection to one of the most important bands in rock history.
Burwood Council, for its part, is stepping up. They’ve commissioned a mural honouring the Young brothers and have promised to find new ways to celebrate the area’s connection to AC/DC. It’s something, but let’s not forget that the house Angus and Malcolm grew up in is gone for good.
For context, the Young family moved to Burwood in 1963 after emigrating from Scotland. They settled at 4 Burleigh Street in 1965, and it was here that the brothers attended local schools, jammed together, and began plotting their path to rock superstardom. The house was ground zero for a band that would go on to change the face of heavy music forever.
Now, it’s a construction site—and a cautionary tale. AC/DC fans definitely won’t forget this one anytime soon.
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