Through the state government’s Living Heritage Program, the Wimmera region received a collective total of $400,000 worth of grants to protect the heritage of the Warracknabeal Town Hall, the Murtoa Grain Store and Antwerp’s Ebenezer Mission.

Warracknabeal Town Hall Management Committee president Lance Huebner said the funding would be used for restoration works.

This will include the removal of asbestos tiles, sub-floor re-stumping and re-levelling, replacement of jarrah flooring, and repairs to water damaged walls and ceilings.

“This funding will allow these basic renovations to happen to help maintain the upkeep of the hall,” he said. 

“We are very happy; it will make a big difference.”

He said the venue was used as a meeting place several times a week by various groups. 

“We currently have four tenants in the different rooms. Events such as weddings and functions are also held at the hall, so it really is used by a lot of community members,” he said.

“The hall is a very important place to us and we have to keep it up to a high standard because of its heritage status.”

The next renovations planned for the hall will be kitchen upgrades.

“We’re trying to get a grant to upgrade the kitchen, which will include the re-stumping and re-flooring of the room,” he said.

“We’ll be working with the shire to see where we’ll go from here.”

Murtoa’s historic No. 1 Grain Store – also known as the Murtoa Stick Shed – received $70,000 for conservation works to windows and doors.

Murtoa Stick Shed Management Committee secretary David Grigg said the funding would go a long way.

“Most of the windows are either broken or dilapidated,” he said. 

“This will allow us to either replace them or restore them. Hopefully it will make the shed more dust proof and keep it clean.”

He said the Stick Shed was an important landmark for the Wimmrea.

“It’s on both the State and National Heritage Registries,” he said.

“It’s iconic because of its unique construction. The shed is really a testament to bush architecture.

“During the war years, it was used as grain storage for the whole region, so it’s not just important for Murtoa, but for the Wimmera.”

He said big things were planned for the shed.

“We were also lucky enough to receive $10,000 from Horsham Sports and Community Club for a viewing platform and landscaping,” he said.

“We also got a $8,600 grant from the Public Record Office to build a digital story of the shed for our website.”

Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation received a $200,000 grant for structural works at Antwerp’s Ebenezer Mission.

This will include renovations to the church, dormitory, kitchen and toilet blocks.

Applications for the next round of Living Heritage Program grants will open in early 2019.