Community House invites tenants

WARRENHEIP Street is now home to a new public asset following the re-opening of Buninyong Community House.

The House has been established by the Community Bank Buninyong as a meeting space approved not-for-profit organisations and groups can use free of charge.

With a conference room and smaller meeting space, the house has a SMART Board, kitchen, company office space, landscaped courtyard with barbecue, and wi-fi access.

Community Bank Buninyong communications lead Sam Elshaug said commercial enterprises and the public sector can also apply to use the building for a fee.

“We’re providing a facility for local groups working actively in the community to meet, connect, collaborate, and really make an impact,” she said.

Community Bank Buninyong chair Ian Corcoran said the building has a professional presentation, while maintaining a “warm, friendly and inviting cottage feel.”

The idea to develop the house sparked from the Bank’s “responsibility to community.”

“The company’s purpose is all about helping build a thriving, resilient and inclusive community, so when this property became available, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to purchase it and turn it into a community facility.

“If the house provides a space where community groups can come, meet, do their business and prosper, then we’re achieving our purpose.”

Director Ron Delaland said $750,000 has been spent on establishing the house, restoring, renovating and extending the heritage building, and completing landscaping works at its front and rear.

“When we bought it, it was an original 1900s solid brick place but the old foundations on sand had shifted, and the walls had cracked with big gaps. It was condemned,” he said.

“We pulled it down, but maintained the heritage front, with every brick from the facade dropped down, numbered, and laid back where they were originally.”

The house may have been officially launched in 2021, but Mr Corcoran said it began to serve its purpose in 2015.

“When we had the Scotsburn bushfires, the house was used as a bushfire relief centre for four months, with City of Ballarat and the Moorabool Shire in here, and other services.

“All the residents were able to come down, meet here, and it was like a one-stop-shop,” Mr Corcoran said.

“It became a central part of the community and validated our decision to invest in the facility. It really has become a much-needed, wanted, loved and well-utilised part of Buninyong.”

Visit communityhouse.com.au if your registered community group or organisation would like to apply to use the House.