"As I drove down Ryrie Street, the other day, I saw a sign on the Telegraph building which said "RECLAIMING OUR HERITAGE".

I thought to myself ‘MARVELLOUS’ we need a few more of those signs.

One for Osborne House.

One for the aqueduct, the only structure of its kind in Australia and tourists travel all over Europe to see theirs.

One for the Benevolent Asylum at the cement works built in 1856 and at present housing a very unique collection of examples of Geelong’s history.

It is very sad to see our history devalued and destroyed daily.

Geelong’s houses pulled down to make way for units – units and more units.

Randall Bell stated the truth in yesterday's newspaper and I quote "Mr. Bell lamented Geelong’s lost Heritage. He said people got what they deserved. I AGREE WITH HIM. This building is precious; it belongs to the people of this area of Geelong. When we asked for volunteers to clean up around here, it was amazing to see who turned up. An 80 year old veteran and many others. The place was vacuumed, tiles relaid on the verandahs and a lot of other small jobs.

As a Councillor from 1995 until 1998, I was a member of the Osborne House Committee set up to coordinate the interested groups and seek to develop and protect this area. The Committee comprised representatives from Aus Council – Norlane R.S.L., Vic Navy League – Maritime Museum – Geelong Museum Association, Band Naval Cadets and others.

Osborne House was part of the planned sell off of assets by the Commissioners "Your assets I might add". It was left to the Council to make that decision on Osborne House because of the outcry by the R.S.L. and other bodies.

My Council was advised that Osborne House was costing Geelong $250,000 annually. When I was asked for a break down of the costs as I was aware of security costs of $52,000 which to protect this great maritime museum was logical, I was told this cost was interest on owed debt. Osborne House is not responsible for any of Geelong’s debt.

Where have the antiques gone from here? Where has the Corio Shires Reserves gone to? Why must Osborne House be made a sacrifice for debt? When I originally suggested to a Commissioner a Sovereign Hill like development for the site would be ideal I was told that it was too far from Steam Packet. Great Project, my Council supported it but the world was not created at Steam Packet, it should be part of Geelong’s picture, not all of it! My Council "God Bless our Souls" who have been blamed for every wrong doing since creation, strove to protect this site. We persevered with the slow wheels of bureaucracy while the Federal Navy League negotiated to develop this place as a Navy League Museum. Don’t forget we also had a submarine base here. WE MAY NEED THAT AGAIN ONE DAY.

Finally November, 1997 a breakthrough.

The Prime Minister gave tentative approval for the proposal. We needed to liaise with our state government to seek a heritage grant. Documental proof is there to verify we were not met with.

The next saga came with the proposed Theme Park Town Houses – a new Disneyland great idea, but, the Theme Park was going to come after the houses, which were to be built on land our Council had no control over. So meanwhile the story continues, it almost would make a good movie. Osborne House was leased for a period, the lessees moved to the Lithuanian House which was destroyed by a fire allegedly started by a mal-functioning computer.

$300,000 has been ear marked for decontamination of this site. I might add this decontamination has not been costed. We really do not know the end costing.

Having been brought up in Echuca and having lived in Port Fairy, I appreciate the historical charisma of each. Geelong has that same charisma and we or should I say some of our decision-makers do not appreciate just what we have here. If thousands can flock to Port Fairy to see their houses, their fishing village uniqueness. If tourists crowd Echuca to sit on the wharf where the paddle steamers brought wool – wood etc just imaging how the tourist buses would co-ordinate from Ballarat where 500,000 visitors are ready to travel to continue the adventure from Sovereign Hill.

 

If the people of Ballarat can do what they did to create Sovereign Hill, why can’t it be done here.

In Geelong after the 50 years anniversary of the 2^nd world war, many Geelong residents wanted to house and display that memorabilia.

We have a world class Historical Records Centre which needs re housing. We have heritage houses at Deakin who don’t need them now. These could be relocated, given to community groups to restore and have ownership of to display their history to visitors. The potential here for Geelong and for a spectacular development is limitless.

I hope the dream does not fade and die. The Branscomb Room with its commercial kitchen would make an ideal restaurant for the development. Why pull it down, that would be a terrible waste I believe."