Unknown future for Meredith landmark

MEREDITH Interpretive Centre, located on the Midlands Highway has been vacant since its last tenant, The BOP Arts co-op, handed back the keys about two months ago.

The building was an initiative of the Meredith Community Planning Group and constructed in 2014 at a cost of $450,000, funded by the State government and Golden Plains Shire.

The Shire is now calling for expressions of interest for either a commercial operator or community group to manage the facility.

Samantha Thompson, Director of BOP Arts describes the Centre as a “funny little building.”

The Planning Group chose the name and also researched much of the content included in the $36,000 fit out.

“It is just a room, albeit a well-lit room with high walls which was a great art gallery space for us,” Ms Thompson said. “Council put in a kitchenette in another small room, so we had washing up facilities.

“They didn’t charge us rent, we simply had to pay for our utilities and services.”

With the co-op’s volunteer numbers dwindling and only using the building once a month, it got to the point where staying on was a waste of the resource, Ms Thompson said.

The site houses public toilets, well used by people pulling in off the highway, and an outdoor pavilion with picnic tables that is open at all times.

“I can’t foresee café going in there right next to the toilet block,” Ms Thompson said. “It’s a strange spot next to a paddock, so whoever takes over the lease has to take care of the paddock as well.”

Ms Thompson said she hoped the centre would continue to be used for artistic endeavours.

“I believe it was designed and obtained funding as an information centre, I think originally it was all about the need for a toilet block and the information centre was an add on,” she said.

“As a volunteer space it will be very tough to continue no matter who moves in there.”