A long-vacant building in Canberra's inner north that was ravaged by fire almost a year ago will be demolished and a landscaped park will take its place before potential future uses of the site are considered.
Public Service Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith announced the building at 91A Wakefield Gardens, Ainslie would be demolished with work to begin in late August.
"The Wakefield Gardens site has a proud history, and I'm pleased we're now able to once again create a space that will bring the Ainslie community together," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"The decision to reconnect the precinct through landscaping reflects the priorities we heard from the community and the site's cultural and historical significance."
The building was destroyed in a fire in August 2025 but the government had said it was likely to have been demolished and rebuilt even before the blaze.
More than 600 people had signed a petition to the Legislative Assembly calling for a community hub and commencement date for reactivation before the building was destroyed in an early morning fire on August 19 that police suspect was deliberately lit.
The site was used by the Canberra Mothercraft Society until the 1990s and housed Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Services from 1998 to 2005.
The building was completed in 1951. The structure was not heritage registered but heritage protections apply to the surrounding gardens.
The decision to landscape the area built on "extensive community consultation in late 2025 and seeks to balance the community's priorities with heritage requirements and site constraints", the government said.
Kurrajong independent Thomas Emerson led his own community consultation process, which put forward a vision for a community garden and urban farm, multi-purpose community hub building and a natural playground similar to Braddon's Haig Park.
Ms Stephen-Smith on Monday thanked residents and local businesses for sharing their views and for their patience ahead of work on the site.
"Participants in both the ACT government's and Mr Emerson's consultations put forward many ideas for the broader Wakefield Gardens precinct, and I will continue to engage with the community about potential future opportunities," she said.
Mr Emerson welcomed the announcement, saying it showed how community pressure could bring the government to the table.
"One clear call I've heard from local residents and community stakeholders is that they want to see this building redeveloped not in isolation but as part of a broader revitalisation of the Wakefield Gardens precinct. So it's positive to see a commitment to reconnect the precinct as part of these works," Mr Emerson said in a statement.
"I've really appreciated engaging with the Deputy Chief Minister and her office on this. I'm looking forward to continuing that engagement with a focus on ensuring what happens next at Wakefield Gardens is driven by a genuine partnership between our community and the government. This is an opportunity to do something really special for the inner north."
Before the fire, Ms Stephen-Smith had told budget estimates the building had been identified as not fit for occupation due to hazardous material, including asbestos and lead paint, that posed a significant safety risk.
"Infrastructure Canberra (iCBR) is collaborating with other directorates to assess suitable future use for 91A Wakefield Gardens site to ensure it does not remain in its current state and a long-term plan is determined," she said in answer to a question on notice.
"Later this year, iCBR will be seeking community views on possible future use of the site, noting that the building itself is in very poor condition and unlikely to be able to be re-used."
In 2008, the then minister for territory and municipal services, John Hargreaves, told the Legislative Assembly options for the site were "currently being reviewed".
A decade later, the Sunday Canberra Times reported a government spokesman had said the property could be reused for community purposes but there were no existing plans to refurbish it.
