Region’s conservation excellence awarded

A CAREFULLY restored former garage is among the winners of this year’s local National Trust Heritage Awards.

The awards, organised by the Geelong and Region branch of Australia’s leading conservation organisation with support from the City of Greater Geelong, celebrate the contribution made to heritage conservation by owners, architects, designers and specialised tradespeople.

The former Richardson’s Garage at 151 Mercer Street, Geelong was one of seven winners announced at last week’s ceremony at Little Creatures Brewery.

Built in 1921, the building was restored to close to its original appearance and brought back to life with the removal of the exterior painting, and the construction and adaptation of missing elements on the front façade.

The reconstruction and restoration – part of the city’s works on the Wurriki Nyal Civic Precinct – celebrates the building as largely originally intended, and it is also a reminder of Geelong’s automotive history.

The other six winners were:

Village 11 Cinema, 192-194 Ryrie Street, Geelong

The Grand Hotel, 76 Newcombe Street, Portarlington

Geelong West grandstands, West Oval, Church Street, North Geelong

Former Portarlington Post Office, 1 Harding Street, Portarlington

“Strathcona”, 2-4 Ascot Street, Newtown, and

“Eurymina”, 93 Prospect Road, Newtown.

National Trust Geelong and Region Branch representative Jennifer Bantow said she was delighted with the good mix of private and public places, and commercial and residential properties in the 2023 awards, which return after a two-year COVID-enforced absence.

“Supported by the City of Greater Geelong, our branch began these awards in 2010 to publicly recognise the extraordinary efforts of local heritage property owners.

“Future generations will thank these amazing people for helping to preserve unique elements of our region’s post-European settlement history.”

Cr Jim Mason acknowledged the valuable ongoing collaboration between the City’s planning staff and local heritage property owners.

“Our planning staff work very closely with permit applicants to help them understand council’s heritage overlays and gain all the necessary permits,” Cr Mason said.

“The City’s heritage consultant Dr David Rowe also provides expert professional advice on how to research and conserve our region’s historic properties, to give them a new lease of life.

“This year’s awards demonstrate it’s a very positive outcome for the property owners, council and the broader Geelong community.”