Works begins at historic cottage site

SECURITY fencing has been erected around McAteer’s bluestone cottage as machinery begins rolling into the area.

The Marshall community group rallying against the destruction is now warning that “time is of the essence” as subsurface and archival investigations begin on site.

The community group was first established in December 2020 in a bid to preserve a 155-year-old cottage that now faces destruction to make room for the Barwon Heads Road duplication.

During the June 22 meeting, the City of Greater Geelong councillors joined the growing community movement to save the building by calling on its chief executive officer to urge Major Roads Projects Victoria to restore the structure within the local area.

Marshall Bluestone Cottage Community Group president Virginia Johnson welcomed council’s unanimous decision to support the relocation of the building.

“This offers far better protection to the structure’s authentic heritage value and would advance the council’s long-term vision to create a clever and creative Ccity,” she said.

“The technology certainly exists to do this relocation, so we now ask council to allocate a suitable site – perhaps the park opposite – and for MRPV to fund the estimated $500,000 works.

“We believe this would be an investment in the preservation of a priceless and unique structure that holds great historic and social value to current and future generations.”

MRPV is believed to have taken possession of the property at the end of last month as part of major works to improve traffic flow by duplicating four kilometres of Barwon Heads Road, removing a level crossing and improving existing intersections.

Previously MRPV program director Tim Price said the cottage was not in a condition to be relocated in a manner that “maintains its integrity”.

Mr Price said a Heritage Interpretive Strategy has been proposed in consultation with the City of Greater Geelong to ensure elements of the cottage can be repurposed within the township.

“MRPV tells us it does not intend to touch the cottage at this stage, but that it’s yet to receive any official communication from the city,” Ms Johnson said.

“So time is of the essence now for both the city and MRPV to heed the growing community chorus to save and relocate McAteer Cottage, rather than tragically lose this historic structure forever.”