The station master’s cottage in Wauchope is to be restored with a $30,000 NSW government grant.
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Announcing the funding at the beautiful old building on Randall Street, Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey said she was delighted to help Hastings Gateway Limited with the Community Building Partnership Grant
“These funds will be matched dollar for dollar with hard work and community funds from Hastings Gateway to enable restoration work of the heritage listed Wauchope Stationmaster’s Cottage to start immediately.”
She said the project had been a while in the making but it will be a fantastic new tourist facility.
Ray Cooper from the Hastings Gateway Trust said the project includes plans for a new Visitor Information Centre, community gardens, café and a display of the Henry Kendall Collection of fine wood arts and crafts.
The building is to be restored to its original courthouse condition and will be used for various community activities.
The cottage was built in 1902 and was originally a police station and courthouse before the railway was built beside it in 1915.
Hastings Gateway Ltd was established in mid-2015 to implement the plans that have been developed by the community and has a broad cross-section of support including collaboration with TAFE NSW.
A web site has been developed and will be launched shortly to provide more detailed information to the community.
Ray, who was station master and lived in the cottage for 17 years, is thrilled that things are now moving: “We hope to have a cafe here too, and it will be the start of a memorial to all timber workers, dairy people and railway staff,” he said.
Architect Brian Buckett is delighted to be working on a heritage building. “We’ve got federal, state and local government all working on the same page, and the railways are involved too.
“It’s unique, and will be a collaboration of the timber work and railway work in the area.”