A Diggers Rest house known to locals as ‘‘The Castle’’ is likely to be saved from the wrecking ball.
Melton councillors last week unanimously backed a report that recommended the council seek authorisation from Planning Minister Matthew Guy to prepare a planning scheme amendment to apply for permanent heritage controls for the castle.
David Kilgariff, the son of former Melton mayor Michael Kilgariff, lived in the 1920s weatherboard house, “Athenry”, for most of his life.
Mr Kilgariff told the meeting that the house must be preserved for future residents of the town.
“If we lose these connections, new families to the area won’t have that understanding or pride in its roots.’’
Council officers visited the house, which was built to resemble a castle, after the present owner submitted an application to demolish it.
A heritage assessment found the Diggers Rest-Coimadai Road property to be historically significant, and worthy of further investigation.
A subsequent report states: “Given the inability to carry out a detailed assessment of the property at the time of the formulation and adoption of the Shire of Melton heritage study, the property could not be included in the heritage overlay.”
“The heritage consultant [who has looked at the house since the application to demolish it was lodged] has advised that the house is in fair condition and worthy of retention.”
A letter from solicitors acting on behalf of property owner DivCorp was read out at the meeting. It called for a decision to be delayed as the council was “acting in haste”, and claimed the owners were being “denied natural justice” in conducting their own investigations.
Mr Kilgariff said he hoped the “quirky” building could serve as a community centre or cafe.
“We don’t really have a cafe in Diggers Rest, and it could attract people to stop in and visit,” he said. “A lot of the older buildings have burnt down in time. We should try to keep this one standing.”
