Point Lonsdale defence huts restoration under way

POINT Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve’s heritage-listed P1 huts have begun a renovation to restore the buildings to their original condition.

Ballarat-based builder Q Constructions is completing a full external restoration of the huts on behalf of the Borough of Queenscliffe, which started at the end of last month.

The project received $400,000 grant from the state government to fund the bulk of the works, which includes external cladding, replaced roof sheeting, restoration of windows, doors and base boards, plus new signs, pathways and landscaping.

The project will also remove asbestos material lining the exterior of the huts.

Borough mayor Ross Ebbels said the restoration would acknowledge the importance of the region’s maritime and defence history.

“We heard from the community that they value the significance of the P1 huts, and we’re really pleased to get to work on restoring them and sharing some of that historical knowledge through interpretive signage,” Cr Ebbels said.

The huts received heritage protection in December 2019 after their inclusion in the wider lighthouse reserve’s listing, which is known as the Point Lonsdale Maritime and Defence precinct.