Museum is on display

By Kath Gannaway
THE design for the $4.1 million redevelopment of the Museum of Lillydale went on display last week.
The redevelopment will see the museum take on a new name as the Yarra Ranges Regional Museum and a vastly expanded role involving the creation of additional space for exhibitions, events and activities.
Peter Williams, director of Williams Boag Architects, the company behind the project, is a member of the Heritage Council of Victoria.
He spoke passionately about the new, modern, design which he said came from a perspective of not adhering to a conservationist view but of using buildings into the future and taking heritage as a starting point.
The plans include a double storey extension behind the existing building with features including access through to the adjacent Athenaeum Theatre, cafe and kitchen facilities and reinstating the grand front door as the main entrance point.
Touching on what may prove to be a sticking point further down the track, Mr Williams said the staircase in the original building would have to go.
Chris Dupe, the Shire of Yarra Ranges manager of arts culture and heritage confirmed there has been some opposition to the removal of the staircase.
He said while space and design were one component of its removal, another was that it does not meet with safety regulations.
He said two out of three opinions sought by the shire from conservation architects had been in favour of removing it.
The regional museum’s co-ordinator, Maggi Solly, said the staircase was not protected under the shire’s heritage overlay and that it was not deemed to have sufficient significance to be protected. Carlotta Kellaway, the historian who worked on the shire’s heritage study, disagrees, however.
“It seems to me if the building is important then that staircase is definitely part of that significance,” she said.
“I think any proposals to change it in a radical way such as removing the staircase should be looked at very, very carefully.”
The design model will go on show at Community Link in Lilydale. Mr Dupe said the final plans would go on exhibition as part of the shire’s planning process.