Butterfly House, war memorials and former post office win heritage awards Mike Hast mike@mpnews.com.au DROMANA’S famous Butterfly House; war memorials at Somerville, Red Hill and Mornington; the former Sorrento post office; and a slab cottage built in about 1850 at Heronswood are among the places featured at the 2015 Mornington Peninsula Heritage Awards. The awards are a joint effort of the peninsula branch of National Trust and Mornington Peninsula Shire, and started in 2011. They were presented on Friday 28 August by shire mayor Cr Bev Colomb and Dr Graeme Blackman, chairman of the National Trust board. Cr Colomb said the “excellent nominations” received this year were a good indicator that interest in the awards was as strong as ever. “There are many fascinating and important heritage places on the peninsula and it is encouraging to see owners, heritage professionals and the community coming together to protect them,” she said. Judy Walsh, National Trust branch president, said this year’s awards were remarkable in their diversity, and congratulated the recipients. “It’s very rewarding to see the younger generation involved in heritage conservation in its various aspects including buildings, landscapes, cemeteries, gardens and objects,” she said. “It is gratifying to see the strength of commitment in a community continuing to embrace conservation of heritage places as important and acknowledging their value as cultural assets.” Winners Restoration of a heritage place Somerville war memorial, Fruit Growers Reserve – awards presented to stonemason Paul Smith for relocation and restoration of memorial; Brandon Perrett for bespoke manufacture of traditional heritage light installed on top of memorial; and Somerville Historical Society for supply of original plans and specifications. Dromana Cenotaph, Memorial Park – award to stonemason Howard Patrick of Dromana for restoration. St John the Evangelist Anglican Church hall, King St, Flinders – award to St John’s Parish Council. Heronswood 1850s slab house
Signals works MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire will soon begin erecting traffic signals at the corner of McDowell St and Jetty Rd, Rosebud. The intersection has received Black Spot funding after three serious injury crashes over the past five years. The signals and usual traffic management works will allow for safer turning movements and make it easier for pedestrians to access local shops, primary school, Centrelink office and Centro Rosebud shopping centre. But parking will be affected by VicRoads works and No-standing areas will be enforced on McDowell St from Jetty Rd to about 60 metres west of Jetty Rd. A No-standing area will be enforced on the eastern side of Jetty Rd at the front of the Centrelink office to McDowell St. The disabled car space adjacent to the Centrelink office will be moved north. The disabled car space on the west side of Jetty Rd, near the existing school crossing, will be removed. Two alternative disabled car spaces on McDowell St include accessibility features, such as pram ramps, to make it easier to get onto the footpath. New signs will advise drivers of the changes, with the shire aiming to minimise disruption to traders, drivers and pedestrians. The works are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Service feedback
Awarded: McCraith House, also known as Dromana Butterfly House, has won a heritage award for recent work that included veranda railing. Picture supplied
adjacent to main house in La Trobe Pde, Dromana – award to carpenter James Webb for restoration of rotted exterior timbers. McCraith House (also known as Dromana Butterfly House) – award to RMIT University’s property services for asbestos removal and other improvements. The house is used by the university as a writer-in-residence property. Restoration and creative reuse of a heritage place Restoration of former Sorrento post office – awards to building owners Peter Griffin and Terry Swann; architect Steve Hofer of Williams Kaye Hofer, Mornington; and John James of Joven Building Services. The building is leased to clothing retailer Country Road, which along with adaptation architect Don
McQualter of NSW-based Meacham Nockles McQualter, received the “Creative reuse of a heritage place” award for adapting the building. Excellence in heritage-related interpretative signs Rye history board at Rye post office – award to Rye Historical Society. Fallen Soldiers Memorial at Rye Civic Hall – award to Rye Historical Society. Grave of Charles Ah Foo at Sorrento cemetery – awards to Sorrento Cemetery Trust and Peter Munro for historical research. Ah Foo was the third burial recorded at the cemetery. Sustainability and/or greening of a heritage place Planting of Norfolk Island pines to complete missing links in Avenue of Honour, and commemorative plaque, Norman St, Flinders – awards to
Flinders Historical Society, Flinders Community Association, Flinders RSL, and Flinders Lions Club. Heritage trade skills Restoration of bronze plaques at Mornington Memorial Park, Barkly St – award to metals conservator Paul Hunt of Paul Hunt Restorations. Creation of a heritage place (inaugural award) Red Hill Memorial Garden – award to Red Hill Community Association (which is still seeking public donations to meet a target of $55,000. Information at www. redhillcommunityassociation.com or call Felicity Jackson, 0438 425 815. For more information about protection of heritage places on the peninsula, contact the shire on 1300 850 600 or National Trust’s peninsula branch on 5988 9853.
RESIDENTS have two chances to provide feedback on how they believe Mornington Peninsula Shire interacts with them and visitors. The information will be used as part of the shire’s customer service review. The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said councillors were interested in hearing about the community’s interactions with the shire – both positive and negative. “This is a great opportunity for our community to help shape the way the shire interacts and engages with them, and I encourage everyone to attend a consultation session or provide feedback online,” she said. Consultation sessions will be held this week. They are: 7-9pm, Thursday 10 September, Hastings Community Hub, 1973 Frankston-Flinders Rd, Hastings, and 10am-noon, Saturday 12 September, shire offices, 90 Besgrove St, Rosebud. Those unable to attend may contribute online at www.mornpen.vic.gov. au/customerexcellence To RSVP and for more information email Lisa Gray at customerexcellence@mornpen.vic.gov.au or call 5950 1250.
Southern Peninsula News 8 September 2015
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