Locals continue the fight to save historic cottage from demolition

BEHIND a small bluestone cottage is a big fight to preserve the “historic landmark”.

Since the battle went public late last year the community has developed a committee of up to 50 members who are working towards preserving the McAteer’s Bluestone cottage now facing demolition.

The Marshall Bluestone Cottage Community Group is calling on the state government to relocate the building to a nearby position, becoming a community asset.

McAteer’s Bluestone Cottage has been a distinctive relict of the Marshall community for more than 150 years but now faces demolishment to make way for the duplication of Barwon Heads Road set to begin this year.

Construction plans lodged by Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) means the cottage located on the corner of Tannery and Barwon Heads roads will soon be destroyed.

President of the committee, Virginia Johnson, said the group supports the necessary roadworks but believes the cottage can be spared.

“Our group is not against progress, and we fully support the need to duplicate and improve Barwon Heads Road,” she said.

“But very little remains of Marshall’s early-European settlement heritage, so our group of more than 50 locals believes this modest place is an important landmark that’s truly worth saving.”

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.

Program director Tim Price said the cottage is not in the condition to be relocated in a manner that “maintains its integrity”.

“We are working with local partners, including the City of Greater Geelong, to honour the cottage’s history within the community, which may include reusing some of its materials,” he said.

The project has been funded by the state government and received the support of the City of Greater Geelong (COGG) under the initial plan which would demolish the cottage to make room for the duplication.

A 1998-2000 city-funded study shows the building was recommended for heritage listing but never received overlay.

Despite not receiving this recognition the cottage was included “to be preserved and included where possible in any future town development” under the heritage guidelines for the draft 2019 Marshall Precinct Structure Plan.

COGG director of planning, design and development, Gareth Smith, said the decision was necessary to support the population growth in Armstrong Creek and the Bellarine.

The Marshall Bluestone Cottage Community Group is proposing the bluestone cottage be dismantled and reconstructed on public land so that it can become a community hub and a house for the town’s history.

“McAteer Cottage reminds us the Marshall Town district provided jobs in industries linked to Geelong’s early wool-processing prosperity,” Ms Johnson said.

“For this reason, we hope the City of Greater Geelong will work with MRPV to ensure this rare example of our local settlement history is not lost forever to the wrecker’s ball, like so much of our region’s lost heritage.”

MRPV is currently in consultation with the city to redevelop a heritage interpretation strategy which proposes that materials from the bluestone cottage be worked within the Marshall Reserve.

Construction on the duplication of Barwon Heads Road is expected to be completed in late 2023.