Tell your tales of Inverleigh gazebo

INVERLEIGH Historical Society members are keen to hear from anyone with stories relating to the town’s gazebo, which has been given a new lease on life by the Inverleigh Progress Association.

Pressure washing, a new paint job, general repairs, restoration of the weather vane, renewal of paving and display boards and the addition of new drought-hardy plants have all been part of the project.

“The gazebo was looking pretty tired and in need of some TLC, so we put forward a proposal to the IPA who were more than happy for us to progress the work,” the progress association’s Glenn Woods said.

The total cost of the project was around $5,500, the majority of which was scaffolding for which the Golden Plains Shire provided $3,500.

Members of the progress association have donated their time and energy to the project over recent weeks.

“Prep work including pressure washing of brickwork and concrete on the gazebo and clock tower to remove mould and dirt, installation of the temporary fencing and scaffolding and installation of solar panels to power new lighting,” Woods said.

“We will also shortly be installing the solar lights to highlight the roof windows and internal area and adding new displays to highlight things like points of interest, local history, a town map, local identities and community updates.

“It’s basically finished, just waiting on the solar lights and display boards to be done. People have been telling me it looks great.”

The progress association has been working with the historical society to assemble material for display at the central High Street landmark initially built in 1992 by students from The Gordon, becoming part of the town’s Pioneer Heritage Walk.

The historical society’s Christine Windle said they have received good responses to their appeal for stories or photos relating to the structure but would like more.

“We have received detailed building information from 1992 personal records, absolute gems to add to the gazebo story,” she said.