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The historic Campbellfield — also known as Redfern's House — has seen better days. The grounds surrounding the Minto property are overgrown and three fences currently erected around the cottage make it a no-go zone for the general public. Originally constructed almost 200 years ago by Dr William Redfern, the building, which is located in Lind Street, Minto, has undergone several make-overs and alterations. The only parts of the original building that remain are the stone-flagged verandah, one chimney and the stone-walled cellar. But it still stands — for now, at least. A development application for a medical and childcare centre on the property have placed the future of the cottage in jeopardy. Attempts to protect the property by having it listed on the Office of Environment and Heritage's state heritage register have been unsuccessful. And now Campbelltown councillors Ted Rowell and Bob Thompson fear the worst. The property is listed as a historically significant item on the council's Local Environmental Plan. Deputy mayor Rowell, who is chairman of the heritage protection subcommittee, said he was "disappointed" with the decision of the Office of Environment and Heritage to not consider Campbellfield for state-heritage listing. "Campbelltown is losing all its heritage sites . . . and it's losing its links with the colonial days," he said. "Unfortunately, the laws don't allow the council to stop development." Cr Thompson was equally frustrated. "The law stinks," he said. "I've been trying to get this done through [the Office of Environment and Heritage] but it's fallen on deaf ears," he said. Cr Thompson said he had also been involved in a long campaign to save the Fisher's Ghost restaurant on Queen Street, Campbelltown. "If we let people do what they want then we'll have no heritage left," he said. "I want my grandkids and their grandkids to have something to look at — but when it's gone, it's gone."

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