Seven local heritage projects receive $19,000 in funding

Seven local heritage projects receive $19,000 in funding

Seven local heritage projects have received $19,000 in funding under Yass Valley Council’s 2022/23 Local Heritage Grants Program.

Council, with the assistance of Heritage NSW, facilitates the Local Heritage Grants Program each year.

The grants aim to contribute to the preservation of structures of historical value and to foster positive attitudes towards heritage and conservation.

This year’s recipients include:

‘Benochy’, Yass - repairs to the leaking roof to prevent further water damage to the building - $2900 The Old Produce Store, Binalong - repointing, stitching and repairing cracked brickwork - $3000 Capital Chemist Pharmacy, Yass - prepare and paint the outside of the building - $3000 Bowning Hall - prepare and paint the supper room, kitchen and storeroom - $750 DJ’s Butcher, Yass - prepare and paint the top floor facia, gutter and downpipes - $3000 Liberty Theatre, Yass - restore external sign - $3350

DJ’s Butcher building owner Darren Garner said he was thrilled to receive the $3000 grant.

“The building was last painted about 20 years ago using another grant provided by Council. This funding will help us to repaint the wood and railings on the top floor balcony before it’s damaged any further by weather. This will protect the building’s heritage for another 20 years,” said Mr Garner.

Capital Chemist Pharmacy building owner Geraldine Doyle said the grant will help to freshen up the building, which is home to the business started by her late husband’s uncle in 1927.

“The building hasn’t been painted for more than ten years and is in desperate need of some TLC. We hope to start work as soon as possible. Some of the timber around the verandah needs to be replaced and then we can begin repainting. We will stick with the existing colour scheme,” said Mrs Doyle.

Friends of the Liberty Theatre member Bimbi Turner said the group is working hard to restore the building, and bring it into the 21st century and was thrilled to receive the grant to return the original sign to its former glory.

“We will use the grant to re-do the sign writing and hope to eventually reinstall the lights inside the sign. The reason we chose the sign is because we thought it’s very prominent on the approach to Yass,” said Mrs Turner.

“We have until April next year to complete the work and will time it with when the scaffolding goes up for the other restorations we have planned.”

Yass Valley Mayor Allan McGrath said he was pleased to see the 2022/23 Local Heritage Grants Program benefiting the main street of Yass.

“We have already begun work on a vision for the main street with the creation of the Yass Main Street Masterplan. This will guide how we improve important infrastructure, including lighting, seating, parking and signage on the main street,” said Mayor McGrath.

“What the masterplan is unable to influence, however, is the facades of privately-owned businesses on the main street. Therefore, it is great to see local business operators taking the initiative to apply for funding for restoration projects, which will not only go to great lengths towards preserving the main street’s heritage, but also improving the look of our main street, ultimately making it more attractive for residents and tourists alike to visit.”

2 2022

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