Tune-up for rundown hall

By Kath Gannaway
RESTORATION of the Warburton Mechanic’s Institute will start on Monday, 6 February, after Yarra Ranges Shire awarded Park Orchards company Renew Constructions Pty Ltd the stage-one contract.
Yarra Ranges Shire’s manager building and assets, Megan Broome, said the company’s experience as specialist heritage builders put it ahead of the field for the $521,000 contract.
Company owner Steve Price said he and project manager Stuart Dunne were excited about the job ahead.
“One of our sub-contractors used to do boxing in the building after school when he was a kid,” he said.
Wearing respirators as a precaution against the build-up of pigeon excrement and asbestos for their initial inspection, Mr Price said there was a lot of work to be done.
“Our job is to make the construction sound again. When we walk away, we will have it looking as close to new as we can,” he said.
The projected completion date for the project is July.