By registering and then voting on the Fund My Idea website you could help our community to raise funds to plan for the restoration of our icon heritage listed building. Voting closes on the 3rd November.
HISTORY: The Lakeside Butter Factory was opened in the late 1880s by Buckland and Lipson.
It closed in 1904 but was reopened in 1915 when the latest equipment was installed. At this time cream was brought from Meningie twice a week on the P.S. Jupiter.
The original building consisted of the round roofed stone building but by the 1920s the factory had been enlarged with corrugated iron outbuildings and was owned by South Australian Farmers’ Union.
The factory is an icon building for Milang overlooking the lake from its vantage point on Tod’s Hill, D’Aranda Tce., next to the Milang Old School House Community Centre. The building is listed as a State Heritage Place on the South Australian Heritage Register.
CURRENT DISCUSSIONS:, The current owner is interested in selling the property and has overfed it to the Milang and District Community Association as his preference would be to see it as community asset.
OPPORTUNITIES
• It is an icon site and holds great historical and cultural significance for Milang and the associated farming community
• The Factory is one of the oldest buildings in town remaining in its original condition and is heritage listed
• Any cheese and butter making equipment will be passed on with the factory as part of the sale thus providing potential for memorabilia displays
• Provides a significant link to other lakes townships including Raukkan, Narrung and Meningie through the shared history of dairy production in the region
• Located next to the Milang Old School House Community Centre which is run by MDCA thus facilitating ease of management and development
• Holds a prime position to capitalize on passing traffic travelling from South East to South Coast • Outstanding views across Lake Alexandrina
• Close to other community facilities ie Pier Hotel, General Store
POTENTIAL INCOME GENERATION Factory lends itself to a variety of enterprises which would need to be explored in the development and business planning phase and prior to renovations.
MDCA has the capacity and experience to develop social enterprises which are income generating or the building could be leased in whole or part to private enterprise.
• Environment/Sustainability Interpretive Centre ie Lakes Hub
• Visitor Information Centre
• Historical Displays
• Family History Centre
• Farmers Market • Local Produce Store
• Art Gallery
• Café/Restaurant
• Cellar Door
• Food Production ie cheese maker, bush foods
• Media Arts – movies, theatre, comedy • Centre for Community Development – Education and Training
• Or combinations of the above
NEXT STEPS
1. Organise a building inspection
2. Prepare a business plan with community support and collaboration
3. Secure funding to purchase the property – explore all options including loans, donations, fundraising, grants
4. Employ heritage architect to develop building restoration plan in consultation with community
5. Develop marketing plan
6. Source funds for renovation and restoration to meet current building standards
No comments:
Post a Comment