MORE than 700 people have joined the fight to save Marshall\u2019s 155-year-old cottage, with Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) warning that destruction could be near.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the McAteer\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 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\u2019s approval for the relocation,\u201d Ms Johnson said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The project, lodged by MRPV, has been funded by the state government and supported by the City of Greater Geelong.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe certainly don\u2019t want to halt the much-needed duplication of busy Barwon Heads Road,\u201d Ms Johnson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we believe there\u2019s 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\u2019s local heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The group has proposed the cottage be moved to a nearby site, unaffected by the duplication and used as a \u2018history house\u2019 with a council-run tourist-information centre for visitors arriving from the Great Ocean Road and Queenscliff Ferry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently, there\u2019s no such facility to support community activities in Marshall.\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201cmaintains its integrity\u201d.<\/p>\n
Despite this, Ms Johnson remains optimistic but believes time is running out to save the historic building.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t judge the cottage\u2019s 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if we don\u2019t act now, then all this promise will be gone forever.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MORE than 700 people have joined the fight to save Marshall\u2019s 155-year-old cottage, with Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) warning that destruction could be near. Supporters of the McAteer\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n