Once divine, now dilapidated: Healesville’s oldest building.By Kath Gannaway
NEGOTIATIONS between the Shire of Yarra Ranges and VicTrack could be the key to providing a lifeline for Healesville’s oldest building.
The Uniting Church Synod has applied to the shire to relocate the heritage-listed Mission Church, which is on land the Healesville Uniting Church wants to use for parking and additional buildings.
While the shire has said any approval would be contingent on finding a suitable site to house the dilapidated building, Cr Jeanette McRae said approval would only be given under strict heritage preservation guidelines concerning its dismantling, relocation and reassembly.
Cr McRae said the preferred site for the building, which was constructed as a non-denominational church in the early 1870s, was on public land at the tourist precinct that includes Healesville railway station and the historic court house.
Uniting Church chairman Alan Honeycombe told the Mail the church had previously had an application to demolish the building rejected by the shire, but was adamant now that the building had to go.
That application, in 1986, sparked a revolt by community members who wanted to see the town’s oldest building retained for its historic and social significance. Their campaign was successful – to a degree. The building remains, but is fast deteriorating.
Mr Honeycombe said quotes to remove the building were between $40,000 and $50,000 – money, he said, that the church simply did not have. “We won’t stop anyone who wants to move the building, but we can’t and won’t finance them,’’ he said.
Michael de Oleviera, president of the Healesville Tourist Precinct, said its committee had indicated as far back as five or six years ago that it was keen to add the Mission Church to the precinct, and was willing to help move and restore it. The sticking point is that the precinct land is leased by Yarra Ranges Shire from VicTrack and permanent buildings are prohibited on the site.
Mr De Oleviera said the shire was negotiating with VicTrack to swap the land in Healesville for shire-owned land in another area. The sticking point, he said, was that VicTrack had put a price on the precinct land that was prohibitive. “They’ve valued it at millions,’’ he said.
Mr de Oleviera said he was hopeful a resolution would be reached in which the building was relocated and restored. “It’s a significant part of Healesville’s heritage and it could be a real asset to the town,’’ he said.
Objections to the current application closed on 5 January, but late objections can be lodged until the time the matter is heard by council.
