Hidden legacy still a priority
Not many people beyond City of Greater Bendigo’s heritage advisor Megan McDougall would realise the true depth of heritage in Bendigo’s old buildings.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A number of buildings dating from the 19th century – some well known, others mostly forgotten – are among the assets that the council’s building and property services work to conserve and restore.
Ms McDougall took the Bendigo Advertiser on a tour of a number of heritage buildings that council has worked to conserve.
“I work with the building and property team figuring out what needs to be done,” she said.
“Buildings on state registrar have the highest significance but that doesn't mean others are of lesser importance to the community.
“We look at stopping what is degrading the building as the most important aspect.”
The tour starts in Eaglehawk where Ms McDougall lets us into a door in High Street that most people would pay no attention to.
It is the Manchester Unity Hall, which was established in 1904 and hides a 56-foot long hall that features a pressed metal roof.
It has had the roof of the kitchen upgraded, an audit and has plans to improve access, drainage and re-paint the interior.
Eaglehawk Town Hall has had restoration work done to the clock tower and balcony with plans to install a lift.
“The balcony upgrade works were a safety issue, it needed to be strengthened. If it didn’t happen we might have lost it,” Ms McDougall said.
Ms McDougall said completing works on spaces that still have potential are a benefit to the community.
“I hate to see things decaying or deteriorating. If we can increase a building’s use that’s good,” she said.
Two properties that have had the council’s attention and are used regularly.
Joss House had some complicated paint removal done to the temple after moisture began damaging the building.
“It had been painted inside and out, I think, in the 1970s but moisture was trapped in the wall and was going to cause long term damage,” she said.
A specialist paint removalist was called into to strip the paint without damaging the building or any assets in it.
The Huntly and District Historical Society does a lot of research at the Huntly Shire Offices.
Ms McDougall had an engineering assessment done to the recognisable arches at the front as well as replacing the roof and gutters.
There are also plans for QEO Cottage.
“It is two buildings joined together and the link between buildings isn't great,” she said.
“We need to improve use of building, address the drainage and landscaping and make it fit with Rosalind Park Masterplan.”
Fresh coat of paint encourages groups
The Longlea State School has renewed interest from community groups after a fresh coat of paint, a new access ramp and a restumping job.
City of Greater Bendigo heritage advisor Megan McDougall said the building needed a lot of work.
“It was amazing once we got it restumped and given some paint, it looks so much better,” she said.
“Some members of the community thought should be demolished but it is quite a significant little timber school and we have had more groups interested in using it.
“It looks like a few groups might share it.”
The 1870s weatherboard school began its life in Axedale in 1866 before being relocated and re-erected in Longlea in 1877 for a cost of 477 pounds.
It was remodeled in 1926 before closing in 1951. In 1957 it re-opened until 1975. It reopened for the last time in 1977 and closed in 1993.
Council’s manager of building and property services Andy Walker said the works were intended to encourage people to use the building.
Region’s heritage safe as houses
The city’s building and property services team cares for between 700 and 800 buildings.
That includes 40 heritage assets that have different levels of significance to people, councils and community groups across the region and state.
City of Greater Bendigo manager of building and property services Andy Walker said many people were aware of structures like Bendigo Town Hall and The Capital theatre but there were a number of other assets that his team takes care of.
“They range from town halls to smaller places (around the region),” he said.
“We have between 40 and 50 (heritage) buildings and structures that we regularly maintain and look after.
“My role is managing and looking after council buildings, we can't control the (privately owned) ones but if we are seen to be continually maintaining places, it gives them a of importance to the public.”
One of the great challenges Mr Walker’s team faces is making sure any restructuring or restoration work meets modern building standards without ruining the heritage aspects of the site.
“Unfortunately sometimes we have got to redo some work that was done in the (asset’s) best interest 15 or 20 years ago but might not have been done correctly,” he said.
“Other works include trying to make sure we are protecting the integrity of the asset itself with works like roofs and downpipes.
“We don’t want buildings to stay vacant so we try to do works that encourage people to use them as well. The last thing we want is for them to be locked up and not used.
“So it’s really important everyone in the community can access the buildings. It takes a lot of time, planning and extra costs on heritage buildings than if it were just a new building.”
Funding to care for heritage listed buildings varies each year and it is usually a mix of funds from different levels of government, grants and community input.
Mr Walker said passionate people in the community also add value to the works.
“Community people have a great knowledge of when a building was built or upgraded. We do get a pretty good buy in from some really passionate people,” he said.