A HERITAGE-LISTED Mildura building has just been guaranteed $300,000 in funding for preservation works.
The money will be used to refurbish and restore the 100-year-old Wesleyan Methodist Church on Deakin Avenue.
The building is used by MADEC and community groups for public speaking, weddings and performances and it can seat 300 people.
Bill Nicol, chair of the MADEC board, hopes the refurbishment will encourage more community groups to use the facility when the project is completed at the end of the year.
“Most of the money at this stage will be going to make sure the outside of the building is structurally sound and put back into its original condition and there will be some refurbishment inside, particularly around the ceiling areas,” Mr Nicol said.
“On a longer term plan, the facility is to be used for community-type activities including seminars and conferences and so on, so there could be some scope for conferences, bringing people from outside of Mildura.”
In April the building will mark its centenary and already the MADEC committee has planned a celebration.
Member for Mildura Peter Crisp yesterday promised $200,000 from the State Government’s Heritage Grants fund towards the project and MADEC, which owns the building, kicked in a further $100,000.
“It was commissioned for the 25th anniversary of the Chaffey indenture, and the Chaffey indenture is what was signed by the Queen Victoria, the governor of Victoria and the Chaffeys to bring Mildura into being and its unique,” Mr Crisp said. “The design was meant to reflect some of the feelings at the time after 25 years of the development of Mildura. “And here we are now, 100 years later and the indenture signing will be celebrated on May 31 this year – the 125th anniversary of the indenture – and the church’s centenary is the 28th and 29th of April, when it was opened. “So it is a unique piece of architecture – it prompts a lot of discussion, but for 100 years young it needs some work and for that the Victoria Government’s going to contribute $200,000.”
The building, Mr Crisp said, was constructed in 1912 to a highly unusual design – which externally includes eastern influences in its octagonal plan, domed roof, striped brickwork and minarets – by Melbourne architect GB Leith (late Leith & Bartlett Architects).
The project will involve urgent repairs to the ceiling, exterior brickwork and roof.
“We look forward to this icon of Mildura continuing to shine for another 100 years,” Mr Crisp said.
Minister for Planning Matthew Guy said the grant was one of 13 community projects around Victoria being funded to preserve and protect significant heritage places and objects.
Story courtesy of Liz O’Brien, Sunraysia Daily Tuesday, January 17, 2012
