WINCHELSEA residents will get their first look at a redeveloped Shire Hall building next month.<\/p>\n
Winchelsea Community House (WCH) and the Surf Coast Shire will open the revamped hall on February 10 for a welcoming and information day before the Community House begins its new services from the iconic building.<\/p>\n
WCH, which is located next to the hall site, last year agreed with the shire to expand its lease to include the hall starting on January 1.<\/p>\n
The council has removed the hall’s former stage, laid new carpet, and updated the interior with a new paint job and minor repairs to prepare the former Shire Hall for its new era.<\/p>\n
The hall will soon have furniture added to equip it as a multi-purpose space hosting community activities and groups, as well as casual drop-ins, a visitor information centre and the council’s Winchelsea maternal and early years services.<\/p>\n
WCH committee of management’s Tony Phelps said the group was eager to finally reopen the revamped hall almost three years since it was last open for public use.<\/p>\n
“The painting’s done, the carpet’s in, I think the furniture is all that’s left to be delivered,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The general plan is for the officials to open the place and then have the people come in after that and have a look.<\/p>\n
“It’s an empty space now, so the challenge is to fill it with people.<\/p>\n
“We’re expecting the official opening in February, cutting the ribbon so to speak, then people can come in and the marketing will begin in earnest to get people using the space.”<\/p>\n
Mr Phelps said WCH was excited to hire former Neighbourhood House Barwon network co-ordinator Jill Evans to manage new activities from the hall.<\/p>\n
The community house has a three-year lease to operate the facility that has remained closed since April 2019 when it was used as tea rooms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WINCHELSEA residents will get their first look at a redeveloped Shire Hall building next month. Winchelsea Community House (WCH) and the Surf Coast Shire will open the revamped hall on February 10 for a welcoming and information day before the Community House begins its new services from the iconic building. WCH, which is located next […]<\/p>\n