Minister for Education James Merlino and Member for Northern Victoria Steve Herbert have announced details of historic buildings to be saved in the Mildura Rural City Council area following consultations with the local community.
Representatives from the Department of Education and Training met with local communities and the council regarding demolition plans at the former Nichols Point Primary and Ouyen Primary sites, as well as sites made vacant as part of the merger to create Merbein P-10 College.
Following these meetings, and further consultation with stakeholders, the Department has assessed structures at the sites that have historical value will be saved when demolition works begin this month. The demolition program - which will start at the former Ouyen Primary site and finish with the old Nichols Point Primary site – will be undertaken in the following order:
- Ouyen – all structures will be demolished
- Merbein South – structures to be saved: the old hall and adjacent water tank, toilet block, tennis court and associated fencing, water tank next the tennis court and the mud brick gateway
- Merbein (Paschendale Avenue) – the shelter shed will be relocated by the Merbein Community Historical Society
- Merbein (Jenner Street) – The remaining rotunda will be relocated by the Merbein Community Historical Society
- Nichols Point – structures to be saved will be the old school building built in 1906 and the rotunda
Proceeds of land sales are prioritised towards creating, maintaining, improving and extending assets that are core to current or future educational needs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, James Merlino
“Following feedback from the people of Mildura, I asked the Department to work with the local community and council to find a solution.”
“We’re investing almost $4 billion to make Victoria the Education State, so every community has access to a great school and every child gets the chance to succeed.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Northern Victoria, Steve Herbert
“The local community raised these concerns with me and I have worked with the Minister for Education to achieve an excellent outcome.”
“The scheduled demolitions strike a balance between removing dilapidated buildings, many of which have been targeted by vandalism, and saving those structures that have value to local communities.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020