Hundreds join final plea to save Marshall’s bluestone cottage

MORE than 700 people have joined the fight to save Marshall’s 155-year-old cottage, with Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) warning that destruction could be near.

Supporters of the McAteer’s Bluestone Cottage have been advised that demolition will begin in as little as three months as MRPV prepares for stage one of the Barwon Heads Road duplication.

Marshall Bluestone Cottage Community Group president Virginia Johnson said the small cottage on the intersection of Tannery and Barwon Heads Road had attracted an additional 650 supporters since early February.

“Our group now has more than 700 supporters, with promises of volunteer help from local tradespeople and councillors from the City of Greater Geelong have also indicated their support if we gain MRPV’s approval for the relocation,” Ms Johnson said.

The community group was formed in December 2020 when plans to duplicate the Barwon Heads Road revealed that the old bluestone cottage, first built in 1866, would be demolished in the process.

The project, lodged by MRPV, has been funded by the state government and supported by the City of Greater Geelong.

MRPV confirmed plans last year to improve the traffic flow in the area by duplicating four kilometres of the road, removing a level crossing and improving existing intersections, with the action group supporting the majority of the major works.

“We certainly don’t want to halt the much-needed duplication of busy Barwon Heads Road,” Ms Johnson said.

“But we believe there’s room for sensible compromise, and that MRPV and its minister should respect the large groundswell of supporters who want to save a unique remnant of Geelong’s local heritage.”

The group has proposed the cottage be moved to a nearby site, unaffected by the duplication and used as a ‘history house’ with a council-run tourist-information centre for visitors arriving from the Great Ocean Road and Queenscliff Ferry.

“We believe a relocated cottage could offer a social engagement venue for local residents to be booked for playgroups, book clubs, history groups and other community gatherings,” she said.

“Currently, there’s no such facility to support community activities in Marshall.”

MRPV program director Tim Price previously said he would consider ways to re-use the materials, bur the cottage was not in a condition to be relocated in a manner that “maintains its integrity”.

Despite this, Ms Johnson remains optimistic but believes time is running out to save the historic building.

“You can’t judge the cottage’s value by money alone, instead we should see this as a unique opportunity to create a new place that can offer a sense of identity and strengthen our community,” she said.

“But if we don’t act now, then all this promise will be gone forever.”