The Draft Study was completed in June 2017 and it has identified 182 individual places, including five precincts in Dookie and Murchison, as being of heritage significance.
The purpose of the Draft Study is to identify places of post-contact heritage significance to Greater Shepparton and to make recommendations for their future conservation. Council has previously prepared two studies, the City of Greater Shepparton Heritage Study Stage II 2006 (HSII) and the Greater Shepparton Heritage Study Stage IIB May 2013 (HSIIB).
Unlike previous heritage studies that largely focused on urban areas, the Draft Study was prepared to largely identify places of heritage significance from rural areas and the rural townships of the municipality.
Affected land owners and occupiers of land included in the Draft Study will be directly notified to inform them of the Draft Study and provide them with the opportunity to attend one-to-one consultation events with Council officers and Council’s Heritage Adviser to discuss the findings of the Draft Study. Site visits may also be undertaken as part of this process.
Greater Shepparton City Council Director Sustainable Development Johann Rajaratnam said the Draft Study has taken two years to prepare. “It has involved hours of painstaking historical research to identify and research the history of these places from right across the Greater Shepparton municipality,” he said.
Some noteworthy places that have been identified include:
- the former Camp 2 Prisoner of War Camp at Dhurringile, which was one of the seven camps housing prisoners of war and internees in the Tatura/Murchison/Rushworth area during World War 2;
- the timber flumes associated with the Goulburn Irrigation Scheme constructed in 1890 in Murchison; and
- the former Murchison Aboriginal Protectorate, which operated from 1840-1853.
“This is really important work as it includes towns and rural areas which house some significant heritage for our municipality,” said Mr Rajaratnam.
Mr Rajaratnam also said that “we encourage people to visit the website or the hard copy in the foyer of Council’s office, have a read of the Draft Study, meet with Council officers and Council’s Heritage Adviser, and provide some feedback to Council. It is important to take advantage of this opportunity to get involved and learn more about the wonderful heritage of Greater Shepparton”.
Mr Rajaratnam noted that “all submissions on the Draft Study will be taken into account by Council when it considers the final Heritage Study in late 2017.”
More information from the Building and Planning Department on 5832 9730.
