City of Greater Bendigo Deputy Mayor Cr Rod Fyffe and the Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards will mark the completion of restoration works at Queen Elizabeth Oval Cottage with an inspection of the building.
The Queen Elizabeth Oval Cottage is a one of Bendigo’s historically important buildings and the project, which was a partnership between the City of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Government has preserved the building for the future.
City of Greater Bendigo Deputy Mayor Cr Rod Fyffe said the cottage is actually two buildings that have been linked together over time.
“The two buildings are the Public Works Office built in 1858 and QEO Cottage which was built in the 1890s to house the QEO’s green keeper,” Cr Fyffe said.
“Works to the original Public Works Office section of the building have included installation of timber flooring, internal hard plaster works, restoration of doors and architraves, repainting, roof repairs, electrical upgrade, restoration of sandstone base and brickwork repairs
“The old link between the two buildings was also demolished and a new structure to re-link the buildings was constructed.
“Works to the cottage section of the building included restoration of doors and windows, electrical upgrade, replacement of the verandah, paint work, the removal of old toilets and bathroom and construction of a new unisex, accessible toilet facility.
“Minor landscaping works and the addition of an accessible ramp have also been undertaken to improve access to the building.
“The work is part of the City’s ongoing commitment to preserve local heritage buildings that are under our care.”
The Bendigo District Cricket Association will return as tenants of the building and the City is working towards making some parts of the building accessible to other community groups.
The project was funded by a $340,000 contribution from the City of Greater Bendigo and a $200,000 grant from the Victorian Government’s Heritage Victoria Living Heritage Grants program.
About QEO Cottage
The former Public Works Office was constructed in c1858, just seven years after gold was first discovered in Bendigo. It was part of the Government Camp which operated in what we now know as Rosalind Park. The building dates from the colonial government initiative to construct permanent buildings at the camp.
The Rosalind Park Government Camp was one of the largest government camps in the Victorian Goldfields and the buildings are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.
In the 1890s the Bendigo Council constructed a cottage adjacent to the Public Works Office for use by the Rosalind Park Upper Reserve’s green keeper.
