In the quiet Sydney suburb of Burwood, a piece of rock ‘n’ roll history vanished in an instant when the family home where AC/DC was founded was mistakenly demolished by a property developer. The modest, one-story, two-bedroom brick house at 4 Burleigh Street had been a pilgrimage site for fans of the legendary band for decades. It was here that Angus and Malcolm Young, the core members of AC/DC, spent their teenage years laying the foundation for one of the most iconic bands in rock music. The house also held significance because it was where George Young, the brothers’ older sibling and a member of the wildly popular band the Easybeats, played a pivotal role in shaping their musical talents. For fans and historians alike, the home represented a cultural touchstone, a testament to the humble beginnings of a band that would go on to achieve global superstardom.
The Young family’s journey to this unassuming house began in Scotland, where they migrated from before settling in Australia. After initially living in a migrant hostel, they moved to 4 Burleigh Street in 1965. The house quickly became a hub of musical activity, with the Young brothers honing their craft and forming the seeds of what would become AC/DC. The home’s significance extended beyond its role as a creative incubator; it also served as a focal point for the band’s early fans. When the Easybeats rose to fame, the house became the site of a mini-riot after a fan magazine revealed the Young family’s address. Hundreds of enthusiastic fans, mostly high school girls, descended on the property, with 20 managing to force their way inside. The chaos was so intense that a young Angus Young was reportedly trampled in the process. This anecdote, recorded in the home’s listing on Australia’s National Trust Register, captures the fervor and excitement that surrounded the Young family’s musical endeavors.
The property’s cultural importance, however, was not enough to save it from the wrecking ball. In March 2023, the house was sold to a property developer, Burwood Square, for 5.8 million Australian dollars ($3.6 million). The company, which had planned to demolish the house as part of a larger development project, claimed it was unaware of the property’s historical significance despite conducting due diligence. “Unfortunately, the historical connection to AC/DC was not identified, and we regret the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property’s background with us,” said Leon Kamita, Burwood Square’s general manager. The developer expressed shock upon learning about the home’s connection to the band after demolition plans were already underway. The company’s statement reflects a broader issue: the often-overlooked importance of preserving sites tied to cultural and historical milestones, even when they are unassuming or lack formal recognition.
The demolition of 4 Burleigh Street has sparked widespread disappointment among fans and historians, many of whom had long advocated for the house to be protected. The property’s condition had deteriorated significantly since the Young family left in 1978. Over the years, it served various purposes, including as a brothel in the 1980s and later as a medical practice. By the time it was sold to Burwood Square, the house was in poor repair. Despite its condition, the house held immense sentimental value for those who revered AC/DC’s legacy. In 2003, rock historian Glenn A. Baker wrote a passionate plea for the house to be preserved, calling it “a small, simple dwelling begging for immediate acquisition and deification.” His words fell on deaf ears, however, as the house was never granted the historical protection needed to safeguard it from demolition.
Efforts to recognize the home’s significance were made over the years, but they ultimately failed to prevent its destruction. In 2013, the house was listed on the Australian National Trust Register, a move that acknowledged its importance but did not provide the legal protections necessary to prevent demolition. Two years later, the Burwood Council conducted a heritage review, but it concluded that the house did not meet the criteria for aesthetic or technical significance and that the Young family’s time there was “too brief to be relevant to the life and work of AC/DC.” This decision has since been criticized by fans and preservationists, who argue that the house’s connection to the band’s origins should have been enough to warrant its protection. The council, however, has emphasized its commitment to celebrating the band’s legacy in other ways, such as commissioning a mural near the site. Meanwhile, Burwood Square has pledged to salvage materials from the demolished house to create a communal space where fans can gather to honor AC/DC’s history.
The loss of 4 Burleigh Street serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges of preserving cultural heritage in the face of urban development. While the house may be gone, its memory lives on as a symbol of the humble beginnings of one of rock music’s most enduring bands. For fans around the world, the story of AC/DC’s rise from this unassuming suburban home will continue to inspire generations, even as they mourn the loss of a physical connection to the band’s past. As the site is transformed into a sleek, 50-story tower with hotel rooms and affordable housing, the legacy of the Young brothers and the music they created will endure, even if the house that witnessed it all is nothing more than a memory. The story of 4 Burleigh Street is a bittersweet testament to the power of music to transcend time and place, even as the physical spaces that shaped it disappear.
