Rescue mission

By Kath Gannaway
The Uniting Church Synod, which owns the historic building, says it is dangerous, they don’t have the money to repair it and they want it demolished.
There are moves however to save the building which started life as a non-denominational church paid for by public subscription, and either dismantle it, or move it to another site.
Local church spokesman Alan Honeycombe confirmed said last week that an application had been made to remove the heritage overlay to pave the way for demolition, but also said the church would not stand in the way of anyone who wanted to move the building – at their own cost.
A previous demolition application in 1986 was rejected by the Shire of Healesville, and an application in 2008 to move the building to the Healesville Tourist Precinct (at the railway station) was also unsuccessful.
Healesville resident and historian Shane Sawyer says it would be a tragedy to lose the building.
He has researched its history and is adamant that as a significant and unique piece of Healesville’s heritage, it should not be bulldozed.
“I am certain many people in Healesville are unaware of the cultural and heritage significance of our second-oldest building and that, should we allow it, it faces demolition,” Mr Sawyer said.
The Healesville and District Historical Society was to discuss the matter on Monday (12 December) but president Kevin Mason said an early assessment was that the building did have possibilities but that it would need a lot of work done.
“If it is to be moved you would need to have a place to go to, a use for it and some way of maintaining it,” he said.
He said in the first instance, the society would be working on getting a submission in to Yarra Ranges Council.
The National Trust Australia (Victoria) has also had a representative look at the hall and said they could not comment until they had a report back on its condition.
Mr Honeycombe said the church had had quotes and that no removalist was prepared to move it.
“They all say it can’t be done,” he said.
He said it would cost the church $100,000 to repair the building and that the church did not have the money.
He said the church was not prepared to put any money into retaining the building on the site, or elsewhere.
“We want to use the land for other things, a car park and a shed … it all comes down to money and there just isn’t any,” he said.
“If someone wants to come up with the money, we would not stand in their way, but as it stands, it is a safety issue.”
The closing date for submissions to Yarra Ranges Council is 14 December.
Yarra Ranges Council has advised that submissions can be made up until the matter is heard by council in the new year.