Australian real estate developers accidentally bulldozed the childhood home of AC/DC founders Angus and Malcolm Young in recent days, claiming that they were not aware of the property’s cultural significance until after it was destroyed.
Per a report from Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper, the Young’s old home in Sydney was bought by Burwood Square Pty Ltd in February of 2023 and demolished in recent weeks. The Young family had moved into the house in 1965, a couple of years after emigrating from Scotland. In 1973, Angus and Malcolm founded their iconic band in that same house.
Despite the structure being added to Australia’s National Trust List of Historic Homes in 2013, the developers were apparently unaware of the heritage home’s rock and roll history, or that rock fans would visit the site in honor of AC/DC. They regret demolishing the site.
“On behalf of the team at Burwood Square, I want to convey our heartfelt regret that we have only just learnt of the cultural significance of 4 Burleigh Street, the former home of AC/DC, one of music history’s most iconic bands,” general manager Leon Kmita saud in a statement. “We now recognize how deeply this location resonates with the AC/DC community and fans worldwide.”
While the Burwood Square team said they tried to do their “due diligence” while researching the acquisition, Kmita said that “the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property’s background with us.”
He continued: “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.”
While the home is gone, the local Burwood Council have celebrated the Youngs elsewhere in the community, with a mural of the two rockers currently painted onto the building at 12 Burleigh Street.
In related news, AC/DC will be mounting their first U.S. tour in nine years this spring, with a 13-stadium run of dates beginning April 10th at Minneapolis, Minnesota’s US Bank Stadium.
The tour will also feature the Pretty Reckless, and you’ll find the full schedule over here.