Rathrone House landscape focus

By Kath Gannaway
TRADERS at Heal-esville’s west-end precinct say they are prepared to pay for ‘interim’ landscape works to complement the increased profile the restoration of Rathrone House has brought to the strip.
Built in 1886, Rathrone House remains one of Healesville’s most historic buildings. Almost derelict, it has been restored over the past few years with two modern town-houses on the top level and two shops tenanted by Wine Justice wine cellars and The Fox Hole Tavern at street level.
The building was officially re-opened by former Shire of Yarra Ranges councillor Di Moore on Saturday, 19 November, following the completion of the balcony, a prominent feature of the building in its heyday.
“We are concerned that this is the entrance to town from Melbourne and it should be profiled as an entrance,” said Peter Cock, one of the owners of the building.
He said the Shire of Yarra Ranges had advised that landscaping works were not planned for another two years but said there was work that needed to be done now to enhance the appearance of the area, and to deal with practical issues such as waste collection and parking.
“The Shire of Healesville did a great job on landscaping Maroondah Highway and that’s one of the reasons it has become such a great place for tourists. Unfortunately that landscaping stops at Church Street and it needs to be extended,” Mr Cock said.
He said he had a signed an agreement between four of the shop owners willing to pay for temporary works which would include a cutting at road level to facilitate parking and bin collection and levelling the ground to enable outdoor catering.
Mr Cock and his partners are also in the process of building four townhouses behind Rathrone House effectively changing the environment from an industrial focus to more of a tourist/residential area.
“We would like to plant trees so they have time to grow before the shire starts landscaping works, and eventually we would like to see the lamps which are so much a feature of the town also extended to this end of town,” he said.