AFTER a decade of abandonment, one of Penola most historic cottages will undergo a facelift.
The historic Coombe Cottage received $500 as part of the Bendigo Bank community grants program to upgrade the facility’s kitchen and the toilet.
Built as the second residence on the site that was originally purchased by William Britt in 1851, the cottage is now part of Penola’s Retirement Village, Tandara Lodge.
Many families lived in the cottage over the years, but when the retirement village developed on the land surrounding it Tandara purchased it and used it as an office.
Over time the cottage fell into disrepair with major water damage in two rooms and the front veranda rotting and becoming unsafe for entry.
The Tandara Lodge Board was reluctant to spend major money on it at that time and the
office was moved.
The cottage was unoccupied for around a decade.
Four years ago, Tandara Lodge board chair Jeff Hoare developed a proposal to seek major funding from the Commonwealth Government to renovate the cottage as a social centre for residents.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin was lobbied, but nothing eventuated.
Undeterred, the board applied for small grants for some minor works, with Limestone Coast-based Stand Like Stone responding first with funding to repair the gutters.
The Lions Club later funded the upgrading of the electricity wiring and the Wattle Range Council funded the repair of the rotting front veranda.
After seeing progress was being made, the new Tandara board of management have committed funding to support further upgrades.
“It is great to see the cottage gradually come to life again and we really appreciate the support we have had with the grants” Mr Hoare said.
“The next jobs are painting the roof and giving the interior rooms a coat of paint to freshen them up.”
The Penola Lions Club will use one room of the cottage as their office and Tandara will relocate its office to the Portland Street site.
Tandara residents will be welcome to use the cottage for recreational purposes when the work is finished.
