Update - Old Methodist Church

An analysis of heritage values within and surrounding the Traralgon Station Precinct was undertaken by an independent heritage adviser.

This analysis identified the key features regarding heritage in the area, but did not specifically recognise the building.

The following sites were deemed to have some heritage significance at the time:

• The Engine House and Turntable
• The Old Station Building, Queens Parade
• The Footbridge
• The Victorian Railway Industry Hall (VRI hall), Queens Parade
• The former Army Drill Hall, Queens Parade

Council is committed to working with the community to arrange a heritage assessment for the building.

In preparation for the Councillor briefings, Council met and consulted with the Traralgon Community Development Association and Traralgon Historical Society prior to this decision to discuss the future of the building.

Both stakeholder groups were requested to consider the options and seek additional feedback from their respective committees.

Their feedback was provided back to Council in writing in August 2021 and is available in the Council report.

While relocation was initially preferred by both stakeholder groups, both groups understood that the expense, associated risk and difficulty in locating to a new site were prohibitive factors.

At its meeting on Monday 8 November, Council resolved to demolish the Latrobe City Visitor Information Centre in Traralgon, while recovering any salvageable items with a social or cultural value from the building.

This decision was not made lightly, and was based on the information available about the condition of the building and the risk that it would not survive should it be relocated.

This decision follows a resolution by Council in April 2018 to continue to provide visitor services from the building until it could be co-located at the new Performing Arts Precinct. As part of the resolution, Council was to consider the matter of the future of the existing building at that time.

Since this decision, further information has come to light following a meeting with the community on Tuesday 30 November which emphasised the need for additional engagement.

The land is owned by the Victorian Department of Transport, for which Council had a lease agreement in place. The lease has expired and Council has an obligation to remove or carry away the building and to reinstate the site.

The land forms part of the Traralgon Station Master Plan, which was developed in 2011.

Councillors were presented with and considered a number of options prior to the decision being made to demolish the Latrobe City Visitor Information Centre, while recovering any salvageable items with a social or cultural value from the building.

This included:

• Demolition of the building;
• Selling the building with removal or demolition required by the new owner;
• Retaining the building in its current location for a period of at least five years and lease it to a local business or community group via an expression of interest process;
• Retention of the building in its current location but no longer occupying the space (i.e. leaving it vacant);
• Retaining the building for use as a co-working space for corporate and community projects; and/or
• Relocation of the building.

As with all Council buildings, a regular/cyclical maintenance schedule is followed. The building remains useable and in an occupiable condition.

The significant repairs outlined in the structural assessment report are attributed to the fragility of the building and the capacity to relocate the structure.  This is different to ongoing maintenance.

Council entered into a 20-year lease arrangement, which commenced in February 1995; the lease is currently on a periodical arrangement.

The commencement of the lease arrangement was the role of a former Council, leaving this Council with the legacy issue.

Council can have a heritage assessment undertaken by a heritage consultant. If the building is deemed significant, Council can look to apply a heritage overlay through a Planning Scheme Amendment, which is ultimately approved by the Minister for Planning.

It is important to note that heritage value and heritage significance are two different things.  The community may love a building and consider it significant, but that does not guarantee it meets the criteria for recognition and preservation.

The relocation quote accounted for the building being cut in half for relocation.

Council considered the most cost-effective option. Dismantling the building piece by piece and rebuilding it would significantly add to the costs associated with relocation.

Council is willing to consider these options in the future.

At this stage this hasn’t been considered. This would have been the next step had Council determined to relocate the building rather than demolish.

The quotation for relocation only allowed for the building to be transported up to 20 kms.  As such, any relocation site would need to be in Traralgon, not Gippsland Heritage Park as has been suggested.  While it would be nice to have the building relocated somewhere with other buildings of the same nature, its fragility needs to be considered.

Many potential sites within Traralgon, including Victory Park or the Traralgon Showgrounds for example, are flood prone.

At its meeting on Monday 8 November, Council resolved to demolish the Latrobe City Visitor Information Centre in Traralgon, while recovering any salvageable items with a social or cultural value from the building.

This decision was not made lightly, however, Council determined based on the information available that it is not in a position to relocate this building, due to the significant costs involved and the risk the building will not survive should it be relocated.  

Council does not own the land where the Visitor Information Centre currently sits and has a lease agreement with the Department of Transport, which has now expired.

We have an obligation to remove the building from the site at the end of that lease, however, our advice is that the building will be unlikely to withstand a relocation, having already been relocated twice.

A previous assessment of the buildings in the station precinct by an independent heritage assessor did not list the building as having heritage value. Council recognises however that the value to the community is not one that is based on the heritage value alone.

Council met with the Traralgon Community Development Association and Traralgon Historical Society prior to this decision to discuss the future of the building.

Both stakeholder groups were requested to consider the options and seek additional feedback from their respective committees.

Their feedback was provided back to Council in writing in August and is available in the Council report.

While relocation was initially preferred by both stakeholder groups, both groups understood that the expense, associated risk and difficulty in locating to a new site were prohibitive factors.

We share the same feelings as our community when it comes to maintaining the historical features of our townships and will make every effort to preserve significant items from the building.

Our community will have the opportunity to decide where the key features of this building will go to ensure they are maintained and become a feature.

Visitor Information Services will continue to operate from the new Gippsland Performing Arts Centre when it is operational in 2022, with wayfinding signage from the highway and adequate areas for long bay parking.

Council is also aware of an online petition about the future of this building, along with members of the community who have indicated that they would like to organise a community meeting and have invited Council to attend to provide background on the decision.

Council is happy to speak to the community further on the matter and will provide updates.

Review the information relating to the Visitor Information Centre building, which was presented to Council for their consideration at the November 8 Council Meeting Minutes and Agendas page.

Last night Council attended a meeting organised by the community to discuss the future of the Latrobe Visitor Information Centre building, the former Methodist Church.

Council would like to thank the meeting organisers for the opportunity to attend and provide background information about Council’s recent decision.

In our presentation to the group, we covered the following topics:

• Management of the site
• The Traralgon Railway Precinct Master Plan
• Heritage considerations
• Structural assessment details
• Confirmation that no further planning or works, relating to demolition, have commenced

In addressing the audience, Mayor, Cr Kellie O’Callaghan noted that last night’s conversation would inform future engagement and discussion among Councillors.  

Council acknowledges and respects the views of the community and will take time to consider the discussions.

Council is currently undertaking a procurement process to arrange a heritage assessment of the Old Methodist Church. Following the heritage assessment, we will share the results with the community and undertake further engagement to determine the next steps.

This follows Council’s unanimous vote to undertake additional engagement with the community to determine the future of the building.

Council would like to acknowledge those who attended the community meeting and each of the individuals who made submissions at the December 2021 Council meeting and thank them for the extensive research they have undertaken on the building's history.