The Dingee Station building is now home to the town’s new library, following works to restore the building and open it up to the community.
Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan today officially opened the Dingee Station building at a community celebration to mark the completion of the works under the award-winning Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings Program.
The Andrews Labor Government provided $500,000 to transform the formerly vacant building into a library, to be managed by the Goldfields Library Corporation.
The new library will provide educational resources, spaces for reading groups and a meeting place for local people.
The Loddon Shire Council is sub-leasing the building to the Dingee and District Country Women’s Association and Goldfields Library Corporation who will together manage the library and meeting space.
Bendigo-based builders, FNG Group, carried out the refurbishment, alongside heritage architects Quadratum Architecture.
Works included structural repairs to the floor and walls, restoration of heritage features and works to make the building accessible.
The Community Use of Vacant Rail Buildings Program restores disused historic railway buildings and opens them up to local people, providing regional towns with much-needed community spaces.
Works were completed at Avoca Station earlier this year, and are underway at Willaura Station.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan
“This new library will be a huge asset to the Dingee community -- providing them with a place to meet and learn in the heart of the town.”
“Conveniently located at the station, the new library is easily accessible to everyone and avoids the need for people to make the trip into Bendigo to visit the library.”
“The Goldfields Library Corporation will rotate stock from other libraries, so the people of Dingee will always have access to new books and information – vital resources to help the regional town to continue to thrive.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020