THE expansive project to bring Goonoo Goonoo Station back to new life as the pinnacle of our oldest place in white man’s history here has captivated the imagination and interest of thousands around the area.
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Goonoo Goonoo is a magic marker in the story of Tamworth, not least because it was the first settlement and led to the establishment of the town itself, but because of the social history it holds dear to many people’s hearts.
Just how connected so many people feel to the station, not just because of some of the family roots to Goonoo Goonoo but also because of the place it holds in our psyche, has been demonstrated again more recently.
The restoration project heritage architect Sean Williams this week acknowledged that he’s become more acutely aware of it, particularly since the Haggarty family, through Tony, his son Simon and Simon’s wife Sarah, have been posting some of the latest project updates online.
But he’s also learnt a new lesson in that personal story of the local social connectivity to some bricks and mortar too – and it’s added a new layer of pride and gravity to just what is being recreated and created on the property.
The plan is for the new facility to be opened later this year.
The $4.7 million DA to turn the woolshed into a function centre and restaurant, renovating a dilapidated chapel to host weddings, and turning a rundown schoolhouse into a bridal area as well, was submitted and ultimately approved by Tamworth Regional Council in 2014.
Since then, there’s also been some very glowing and glorious verbal pictures transmitted around the area from those who’ve been engaged to help, including tradesmen and services.
The 4430-hectare property, 25km south of Tamworth, has become a topic of conversation for all the right reasons.
The interest is accelerating and that’s provided some logistical problems too – because in the end, it is a private property, and a construction site, and that’s led to plenty of unplanned and unapproved little journeys into the station village grounds from those eager to get a glimpse of what’s going on.
Sarah Haggarty is another who’s been overwhelmed by the interest in what they’re doing there – but she’s also encouraging a smidgin of patience.
“Goonoo Goonoo Station is not currently open to the public during our restoration and construction period for obvious safety reasons,” Sarah said yesterday.
“It is far too dangerous for the public to be driving through or walking around while we are under restoration and construction and we must also ensure the safety of our trades currently onsite.”
She exhorts those who want to keep up before the official public opening, to follow their Goonoo Goonoo Station Facebook page for an up-to-date visual diary of the works and details on the opening and events.
The project is not just a wedding or events facility. It will also include boutique accommodation in the village precinct and a brand new restaurant which will open to the public.
And, she says, the family is also considering running some guided tours eventually, although it will remain private for accommodation guests.
Architect Williams says that, so far, project works have centred on the stone store, inn, chapel and schoolhouse, and wool store.
There are also more works to come to the shearers’ quarters.
“The buildings have had a hard life,” Williams told the heritage awards crowd this week.
“Some have been demolished and rebuilt, some have been repaired over the years, however, not many were intact when we started the project,” he said.
“When it comes to conservation, one of our biggest challenges was to decide how best to tackle the building restoration.
“Due to the evolving nature of each building, there were some really quirky things and keeping those was really important to preserve that sense of its history.”