Chicory Kiln receives lifeline

By Lachlan Ellis

One of Bacchus Marsh’s most iconic heritage sites, the Chicory Kiln at Taverner Street, is set to be conserved, thanks to the latest round of the Living Heritage Program.

On Wednesday 12 October, Member for Melton Steve McGhie today announced a $33,000 grant from the Living Heritage Program, which provides communities the resources needed to protect our treasured heritage sites and significant objects.

The Bacchus Marsh Lions Club applied for $25,000 in funding from the Living Heritage Program last year, to match contributions from Rotary, the Community Bank, and the Chicory Kiln’s owner, but were told last September their application for that round had been unsuccessful.

The $33,000 grant they now have available will allow for conservation works, and the development of a condition assessment report for the historic signage at the Chicory Kiln.

The scope of funded works includes repairs to the roof, rainwater goods, windows, doors, and brickwork, as well as a treatment proposal for the exterior historic signage.

“The Bacchus Marsh Chicory Kiln is an iconic building; these restoration works will ensure it continues to be part of our local community for future generations,” Mr McGhie said.

“Heritage is not just about preserving history, it’s a major part of what we love about our state and our regions. It also contributes to our tourism industry, contributing approximately $2.4 billion per year.”

Russ Hendry from the Bacchus Marsh Lions Club said conserving the Chicory Kiln was an important project for the community, and it was exciting to see it finally funded.

“The community are supporting us, we have to fund it 1 for 1. We had to get other people to stack up funding as well as the Lions Club, so we’ve got Rotary, the owner of the kiln, and Bendigo Bank also funding the project. That sort of speaks to how important we consider it to be,” Mr Hendry told the Moorabool News.

“It’s been a long time coming, we’ve been on the project for two and a half years. We’ve got 12 months to do it…a lot of time with grants like this is spent filling forms out, that’s where we are at the moment. We’ve signed the contract, and we’ll probably make a start in a month or so.

“Schools have sent us testimonials saying they’ll use it for classes, and everyone I talk to it says, ‘oh this is great, about time they put that up’. It is a great building.”

Since 2016, the Living Heritage Program has invested more than $60 million in more than 180 conservation projects with over 120 so far completed.

To find out more about the Living Heritage Program, www.heritage.vic.gov.au/heritage-grants.