LAKE Macquarie City Council will engage an architect to develop new designs for a multi-purpose community facility in Morisset that is expected to incorporate parts of Morisset Memorial Hall.
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A spokesperson for the council said it would not be appropriate to speculate on the outcome of any designs, nor estimate “how much of the hall the architect is able to retain”.
The council has plans to build a multi-purpose community building, including a library, on a site bounded by Dora, Station and Yambo streets.
In 2015, a concept design for the proposed Morisset library and community building, developed by the council with architectural company Group GSA, was chosen as a finalist for two state awards.
Acquiring blocks of land on which to potentially build the facility has been one hand-brake slowing council’s progress.
But the recent demolition of the old Morisset post office, at the corner of Dora and Station streets, has reignited local interest in the council’s plans.
Council acquired that site in 2014, for $850,000.
This week, council said it had “commenced the process” of acquiring the adjoining block of land, at 32 Yambo Street.
From the day council first pitched its plan for the modern community building, there has been speculation about the future of the memorial hall, and debate about whether or not the historic hall should make way for the new facility.
Council formed a project group with representatives of the Morisset Memorial Hall Trust, who own the hall and the land, and engaged a heritage consultant to prepare a heritage assessment for the building.
The assessment concluded that the hall was of high local significance as a:
- centre of social and community life;
- memorial hall to commemorate contribution of local men to WWI; and
- rare example of high hardwood timber posts.
“The information provided in the Morisset Memorial Hall heritage assessment will inform new concept designs for the community building,” council’s spokesperson said.
“Council will engage an architect to explore options to retain part of the memorial hall building fabric as well as referencing the historical significance in the new building.”
The new design would take “all factors including the heritage significance of the hall”, into account.
Meanwhile, temporary fencing will be retained around the old post office site for a month, as newly-laid turf is watered in.
“We will review the ongoing need for fencing prior to removing the temporary fence,” the spokesperson said.
