Church for export?

By Kath Gannaway
It would, however, not stay in Healesville.
The Uniting Church Synod which owns the heritage-listed building has applied to Yarra Ranges Council for a planning permit to demolish the building, built in 1869 and Healesville’s second-oldest remaining building.
Under the proposal, the building would be dismantled and rebuilt at Gulf Station, a National Trust pioneer farm at Yarra Glen.
National Trust Conservation Manager Paul Roser had talks with the Uniting Church representatives in Healesville last week and received their blessing on the proposal.
Healesville Historical Society has also indicated their support for the idea.
However, Healesville historian Shane Sawyer says he would like to see the building stay in Healesville as part of the town’s heritage.
Mr Roser said there was a demand for weddings at Gulf Station and the Trust would like to have a chapel building for civil ceremonies.
“It would be very much conditional on getting approval from the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the (Yarra Ranges) Council and probably Heritage Victoria, but we believe this would be a good use for the building, and ensure its future,” Mr Roser said.
Healesville Uniting Church spokesman Alan Honeycombe told the Mail they would be talking with Yarra Ranges Council this week to sort out the appropriate permit applications.
The church wants the building gone so they can increase parking and storage space.
Two previous applications to demolish the building have been unsuccessful.
Mr Sawyer said he had had offers of support for relocating the building in Healesville from local business people, but conceded that the facebook campaing he launched before Christmas “savethemissionchurch” had not had a great response.
“If it did go to Gulf Station at least the edifice would be retained, and it would be kept in the shire,” he said.
“I would like to see the local option kept open at this stage, but the community really needs to speak up now if they want it to stay here,” Mr Sawyer said.
Mr Roser said the National Trust was aware of the view of some members of the Healesville community that it should remain in Healesville.
“We are obviously sensitive to that but we do have a need and it’s just serendipity that this opportunity comes up and we might be able to help,” he said.
“We have had our carpenter have a look at it and he believes we can dismantle it and store it at Gulf Station until we can raise the money to rebuild it.”
He said they would ask the Uniting Church to help by giving the money they would have spent on demolishing the building towards its future preservation.
Mr Roser said they would make a formal offer this week.
“We think it could take several months for the approvals and, presuming we get those, we would look at moving it by winter.”
Mr Honeycombe said it would be a good outcome for the building, and conceded it would take pressure off the church which has been criticised in the past for not caring for the building.
“Hopefully we won’t get any objections to this plan,” he said.
In the meantime, Mr Sawyer said he would like to meet with the National Trust to sound out their views and possibilities for retaining the church in Healesville.