The Colac Otway Shire Council has received a $16,000 heritage grant, sharing in more than $1 million worth of new grants to protect and conserve heritage across Victoria, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney announced today.
The $16,000 heritage grant to the Colac Otway Shire Council will be for roof repairs, to address ongoing water ingress problems, to the Mechanics Institute in Apollo Bay, Ms Tierney said.
“The Mechanics Institute Hall was constructed in 1887.
“The post office and a free lending library operated from the building and the hall was used to show films and for social activities.
“The building continues to be well used by the local community as a cinema and for special events,” Ms Tierney said.
The grant is part of the Brumby Government’s 2008-09 heritage grants program, under its four-year, $20 million strategy, Victoria’s Heritage: Strengthening our communities.
Planning Minister Justin Madden said the latest round of grants included funding for 77 community projects to conserve, manage and interpret significant heritage places, objects and collections.
“The Brumby Government’s is taking action to support the local custodians who care for Victoria’s heritage, and work very hard to share it with the wider community,’’ Mr Madden said.
“Without the dedication of these passionate people, Victoria’s heritage would be worse off, so it’s important they receive support and recognition,” he added.
Other heritage grants announced include:
• Camperdown: $18,000 for structural repairs to the State heritage-listed Clock Tower; and $5,000 for a significance assessment of the Camperdown Museum collection.
• Portland: $100,000 for restumping and reflooring of the Former Drill Hall; and $10,000 for interpretive displays at the 1886 Rocket Shed.
• Queenscliff: $2,000 for an interpretive display explaining the history of the HMVS Lonsdale.
• Warrnambool: $13,600 to conserve the 19th-century cannon at the Botanic Gardens; $5,500 for a significance assessment of the Mechanics Institute collection at Flagstaff Hill; and $4,000 for a significance assessment of the Uebergang Family Collection at Allansford Cheese World Museum.