Stairs hope steps up

By Kath Gannaway
A RECOMMENDATION by the Heritage Council of Victoria has given new hope to supporters fighting to have the staircase at Lillydale Museum retained.
The staircase has been earmarked for removal under plans to redevelop the museum.
The recommendation comes just a week after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) found in the Shire of Yarra Ranges’ favour, granting a permit for the new museum project which includes removal of the staircase.
Upper Yarra historian Ellena Biggs applied to Heritage Victoria last year calling for the same heritage controls which apply under the Shire of Yarra Ranges heritage overlay on the exterior of the former Shire of Lillydale council offices, to be applied to the interior of the building.
A spokesperson for the Heritage Council said the council considered the building was of sufficient significance to warrant the council amending the overlay to include internal controls.
“The council noted the staircase is a feature of the internal fittings and an essential component in understanding the way the two storey building was used,” she said.
The decision was made on 7 February, just one day before VCAT member Tracey Bilston-McGillen handed down her order in which she found that the removal of the staircase and proposed extension to the building would not adversely affect the significance of the heritage place.
Rejecting the case put on behalf of Ms Biggs and other staircase supporters, Louis Delacretaz, a former Shire of Yarra Ranges councillor, argued that it was fundamental to the format, fabric and decorative quality of the original building and still remains a principal access. He argued that the lack of internal heritage controls did not justify the removal and argued the lack of controls was due to council’s failure to properly describe the features of the building.
Heritage architect Bryce Raworth argued for the shire that removing the staircase was justifiable in the context of an appropriate overall development.
Mr Raworth said there was nothing particularly significant about the stairs other than their relationship with the former shire hall.
He argued the removal of the stairs could be seen in the light of ensuring the continued survival of the building.
A letter from the Minister of Planning may add weight to the call on the shire to look again at the heritage value of the building.
“Any decision that the Heritage Council makes with respect to planning scheme protection for the interior of this building will be directed to the Shire of Yarra Ranges Council,” the Minister’s department wrote in January in response to Ms Biggs’ request to the Minister that he intervene to ensure the preservation of the interior features of the region’s oldest publicly owned building.
Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan and Paulette Bisley, chairman of the Museum of Lillydale Trust, last week applauded the VCAT decision and predicted work on the museum redevelopment would start early next year.
Ms Bisley said the delay so far had cost the project $150,000 and said $500,000 had to be raised for the $4.1 million redevelopment.
The shire’s manager of community relations James Martin said the shire was looking at the implication of the Heritage Council recommendation and warned any further delays could result in significant cost overruns.