A group formed to help rehome a historic bluestone cottage in Marshall has welcomed the City of Greater Geelong’s decision to defer its fate.
Save Marshall Bluestone Cottage Community Group (SMBCCG) believes Council’s decision to defer consideration of the report entitled Bluestone Cottage Relocation Feasibility Study will buy it more time to adequately rehome the cottage, which was dismantled to accommodate the Barwon Heads Road duplication.
“Our group considers this to be positive news because it means councillors will investigate further including the important points that our group has raised regarding the historical context,” the group said.
“We further wish to thank the supporters who emailed their councillors prior to the meeting expressing their concerns as we believe this helped the move to defer decision.”
The cottage was at 375 Barwon Heads Road, but was dismantled and stored by Major Road Projects Victoria and is now awaiting its fate.
The land was originally bought by Frank McAteer in 1866 and the cottage was built shortly after.
The favoured option to rehome the cottage is to move it to within the JF Field Marshall Park at the same intersection on the diagonally opposite north-west corner.
It is proposed the building be named Marshall Town History House and be used for small-group use such as gardening groups, children’s play groups or art groups.
SMBCCG said the building could also be used as a tourist information centre.
“Locating the cottage at the intersection of Barwon Heads Road with Tannery and Marshalltown Roads makes an ideal walk-up tourist information centre for visitors arriving from the south of Geelong,” it said.
“There is no other information centre on the south of the city for tourists coming via the Queenscliff ferry or via Barwon Heads.
“This centre could provide an online internet search facility. The Tourist Information Centre does not need to open every day.”
