Proud and Passionate: Doveton residents are rallying together to try and preserve an important part of their suburb’s history. From left: Renee Augustinus, Annette Ollerenshaw, Rowan Park House Preservation Group secretary Kate Everett, Muriel Storey, Julie Atkins, Geraldine Kokoszka, Connie Newman and children Charles Smart, Shania Smart and Jesse Limb. Front: Phillip Olsen and organisation chairperson Geraldine Gonsalvez.By Rebecca Fraser
A GROUP of passionate Doveton residents has banded together to try to preserve a piece of their suburb’s history.
The Rowan Park House Preservation Group has applied to Casey Council for a heritage overlay to protect the historically significant building.
In March last year, Casey Council exhibited a draft plan to redevelop Rowan Park, located in Kidds Road, Doveton North, and demolish the historically significant House on the Park.
Many Doveton residents objected to the move with 180 signatures collected and 12 submissions presented to council.
Following this a public meeting was called and the Rowan Park Preservation Group was formed with residents vowing to save the house from demolition.
Group chairperson Geraldine Gonsalvez said the house had the scope to become a great community meeting place that would draw all parts of Doveton together, particularly more isolated residents such as the elderly.
Ms Gonsalvez said the group had a strong vision for the building and had formed a business plan and sent a submission to council with their ideas.
“This would be a great thing for Doveton as at the moment Power Road splits the community and this would bring all parts of Doveton together and would also benefit residents in Endeavour Hills and Dandenong.
“This would also raise the image of Doveton, the poor, sorry image that some people have, when in fact it is such a beautiful community with so many dedicated people,” she said.
Ms Gonsalvez said the group wanted to use the centre for arts and craft and possibly set up a cafe and coffee shop to help fund the project.
“This could also be a great place for the indigenous community to gather and to bring in the different cultures living in Doveton as well as giving local artists somewhere to exhibit their work.”
Rowan Park House Preservation Group secretary Kate Everett has lived in Doveton for 23 years and said preserving the building would greatly benefit the people of Doveton and create much pride in the community.
“This place was here before Doveton was proclaimed in 1954 and should be preserved for the community and kept in Doveton.
“ If we were able to get onto the heritage listing there would be a lot more funding to preserve the property and it could be a real community asset,” she said.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith agreed that the building was definitely worth saving but said council had received two submissions from community groups wanting to use the building.
The other submission was from the Flame Unity Crew and Cr Smith said the group wished to use the building for drama and performance rehearsals and workshops.
“There has been a view to demolish the building but the place certainly has historical value and I would support a heritage overlay.
“There have been two submissions from groups and I hope they can try to work out a way of sharing the facility.
“This is a piece of heritage that should be saved,” he said.
The push for the heritage overlay comes as other Doveton residents have been up in arms over council plans to place 52 ex housing commission homes on a heritage listing.
At last Tuesday’s council meeting 300 signatures were presented to council objecting to the plans amid angry resident claims this would reduce the capacity of residents and property owners to make changes to their homes that are visible from the street and would devalue property values.
Ms Gonsalvez said this was an entirely different situation.
“This is a community asset not someone’s private home,” she said.
