General News
14 March, 2024
Grandstand, halls a priority
The Central Goldfields Shire Council has announced the planning of three major projects that aim to preserve and improve key community assets. A tender for a heritage architect has been advertised by council for the Princes Park Grandstand project...
The Central Goldfields Shire Council has announced the planning of three major projects that aim to preserve and improve key community assets.
A tender for a heritage architect has been advertised by council for the Princes Park Grandstand project. Their task will be to design the upgraded facility, while documenting the required conservation works.
The heritage listed grandstand, built in 1895 by established architectural firm Thomas Watts and Sons, was subject to a conservation management plan completed in 2021.
The plan recommended a replacement of the corrugated metal roof, replacement of the ground floor area and structural improvements to ensure accumulative deterioration doesn’t affect the original fabric and structural integrity of the grandstand.
The plan concluded by stating “the restoration of the grandstand may be slow and costly, but it is of incomparable value”.
The grandstand was partially closed for the 2023 football season, due to termite damage to a structural beam found in March of that year.
According to council’s timeline, the project will be ready for grant applications by February next year.
Central Goldfields Shire Council mayor Liesbeth Long said Princes Park’s “jewel in the crown” needs to be managed for future use.
“Princes Park is a much-loved destination in the Central Goldfields Shire, and of course the grandstand is very much the jewel in the crown of this precinct. It’s an iconic landmark and the backdrop to community sport and our biggest event — Energy Breakthrough,” she said.
“We know that urgent facility upgrades are needed to preserve this community facility and increase its functionality to ensure it is fit for purpose.
“In order for us to progress our efforts, it’s time for us to get clear on what our community needs.
“Once [a heritage architect is] appointed, we’ll be calling for our community to help with this process and we look forward to working together so we can create designs we can all be proud of.”
A contract will also be offered to document and assess the town halls located in Carisbrook, Dunolly and Talbot.
The buildings have all been standing for at least 140 years, with the youngest in Dunolly selected for the Victorian Heritage Register, due to its 19th century architecture being largely intact.
The Carisbrook Town Hall, built in 1859 and the Talbot Town Hall, officially purchased in 1865, are still used as the location for each community’s town markets.
Cr Long said the restoration of the halls is vital to their respective communities.
“We know our community halls at Carisbrook, Dunolly and Talbot are highly-valued by our local community. They are often the soul of the town by fostering community cohesion,” she said.
“It’s where people come together to meet, socialise, build connections and reflect upon the past with back-to’s.
“The assessment of all three halls will help us understand what works are needed to restore the hall and will give us the planning needed to apply for grants to carry out the works.”
A tender will also be awarded for the design and documentation for renewal roofing works at the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre (MSLC).
The centre’s pool is currently closed for upgrades to the pool’s tiles and the surrounding pool concourse.
“With the retiling project currently underway at the MSLC it’s time for us to shift our focus to the next project — we know urgent repairs are needed on the existing MSLC roof and this project will allow us to assess what exactly is required,” Cr Long said.