Clare Regional Hub set to receive a new roof

The prominent Clare building has formerly been home to the Clare Primary School and the Clare TAFE SA campus.

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke Regional Director Trevor Naismith said the building held great heritage significance to the local community and it was pleasing to help preserve and restore the site to ensure its structural integrity for future generations.

“A lot of people across the district have fond memories of the site, particularly as Clare Primary School was located here between 8 August 1879 and 2 May 1971,” Mr Naismith said.

“We are striving to ensure that the Clare Regional Hub maintains its community roots, with more than 50 people from complementary government and non-government organisations currently working from the site.”

Natural Resources Northern and Yorke Regional Assets and Services Officer Mandy deVries said that since the Department for Environmental and Water acquired the site in October 2016, significant work has been completed.

“Local contractors have been engaged to restore the main entrances and build a new wheelchair accessible ramp, along with landscaping works, electrical refitting, painting, installation of new furnishings, carpets and kitchen facilities,” Ms deVries said.

“The stone work at the front of the Goyder building was also repointed by skilled artisans using traditional stonemasonry methods.

“Meeting rooms across the site are now multimedia superhubs, with tele and video conferencing and Wifi, and are available for community groups and organisations to hire."

Mr Naismith said that despite the technological focus, the refurbishment and restoration works have stringently adhered to heritage regulations to ensure that the integrity of the site isn’t lost.

“We have worked closely with the DEW Heritage branch and used historical references to ensure that the colour palette and works undertaken are sympathetic and consistent with the original buildings,” he said.

Mr Naismith said that in November 2016, while undertaking the initial refit and furnishing works, building contractors uncovered a number of original blackboards beneath more recently installed blackboards and whiteboards.

“Of particular note is the reference to the history and geography of the Clare region and vivid descriptions of the regions natural resources,” he said.

“These discoveries, and the buildings in general, are being preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.”

The roof replacement program will impact the Goyder building, which accommodates Natural Resources Northern and Yorke, PIRSA and Hart Field-site Group, along with public meeting rooms and facilities, and the Spring Gully Cottage, which houses RDA Yorke and Mid North. Other partners on the site include Legatus, SES and Rural Business Support, with additional organisations anticipated to join the Clare Regional Hub in coming months.

For more information contact the Natural Resources Centre in Clare on (08) 8841 3444.