Since her Thurgoona home burned down in March, Muriel Williams has been living in hope it would be rebuilt.
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The Crackenback Street property, owned by the Woomera Aboriginal Corporation, was completely destroyed along with $80,000 worth of furniture.
Minutes from a tenants meeting in April show the board recommended the property be rebuilt and Ms Williams returned there.
But just before Christmas, she found out the corporation had back-flipped on that decision.
“They rang me up on the Wednesday, saying they would sell, and it really broke my heart,” she said.
“They told me they would knock the house down and sell the block.
“They would then use that money, with the insurance from the house, to buy a block of flats in town and I would have to go back on the waiting list.”
Ms Williams said the corporation had not given her a reason why the initial decision by the board was not followed through.
“At the last tenants meeting, I said, ‘I heard a rumour in the community you would buy flats with the money’, and they said no,” she said.
“In all the time leading up, I thought they were going to rebuild.
“It took me 20 years and four applications to get this house and now, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Ms Williams has been living with extended family since March.
Cousin Raymond Kennedy said since she had found out about WAC’s decision, her health had deteriorated.
“The trauma she’s been through over the burning of this house and what they’re doing to her is taking a toll,” he said.
“She told me she felt like driving her car through a tree, and when she said that, it nearly killed me.”
Her son Shaun echoed the concerns.
“It’s killing her; she’s been in and out of doctors because she doesn’t feel right,” he said.
“Mum lost everything in the house and all she wanted was the house back.”
Corporation chief executive David Findlay said the property had been assessed by an insurer.
“The final report from the police investigation regarding the fire has not been received by Woomera and we cannot comment in relation to the fire without this report,” he said.
“The current Woomera Aboriginal Corporation Board have determined that it is in the best interests of community needs to purchase units from the sale of the property and insurance received.”
The investigation remains before the coroner.
