A push to heritage list Neighbours' famous streetscape didn't have enough good friends, and all that was needed was a little understanding.
Whitehorse City Council voted against heritage listing the exteriors of six houses in Ramsay Street - also known as Pin Oak Court, Vermont South despite a report finding the site's historic, aesthetic and social significance warranted a heritage overlay.
After the final time Neighbours aired for the last time, the decision came two months after it was axed after 37 years.
Whitehorse Mayor Tina Liu said the council recognised the cultural significance of the modest suburban streetscape, but that it was easily accessible in digital form.
Ms Liu said heritage listing would be unfair to homeowners.
She said that the potential long-lasting effects of heritage protection that will potentially go beyond just the front facade will limit the ability of home owners to renovate or redevelop their homes for decades to come.
The National Trust of Australia's Felicity Watson said that decisions on heritage listing should be made with the interests of the whole community in mind.
She said the heritage listing process involves looking at the benefits and value for the community and not only individuals, including property owners.
There's a chance for property owners to have a say in the process. It's about the enduring value for the community, not just for today's generation, but for future generations as well. Ms Watson said the Pin Oak Court location had cultural significance that belied its modest appearance.
She said that it's the quintessential example of that because it looks like a very modest, kind of suburban court.
It's something that looks like it's ordinary, but it tells a really important story about Australia and about Australian people. Ms Watson said that a heritage listing did not mean that changes could not be made to the houses, but that the significance of the site had to be taken into account when any changes were made.
She said that it's concerning when councillors vote against the advice that they've authorised and commissioned experts to provide these recommendations.
We're disappointed that the council has essentially said they're not going to move forward with this process, because it's very robust and we're disappointed. The last episodes of Neighbours aired in July in Australia and the UK after the British channel that co-funded the soap opera announced it was no longer financially viable to do so.
The decision triggered an outpouring of nostalgia in both countries, and a number of former stars of the show were reunited to film the finale.