By Mikayla van Loon
Yarra Ranges Councillors have recognised the importance of Lilydale’s heritage by moving forward with an amendment to the heritage overlays in the town.
While Lilydale and District Historical Society (LDHS) president Sue Thompson was disappointed by the missed inclusion of the former Poyner’s Shops located at 245-247 Main Street, she congratulated the council for its appreciation of Lilydale’s heritage.
“These amendments are a huge step forward for Lilydale and our most historic buildings along Lilydale Main Street will at last have heritage protection,” she said.
“Nothing could have happened without your dedicated council staff who have undertaken the huge task of developing this overlay, which is no small challenge.”
Believing however, that it was an oversight by the council and heritage consultant that the Poyner’s Shops were not included in the report, Ms Thompson spoke mostly to this item.
While rejected based on structural grounds, due to alterations of the facade and internal, Ms Thompson said heritage protection applies to more than just the physical appearance.
“Heritage listing is more than just physical buildings, just as important is the social and cultural values of the building,” she said.
Ms Thompson said Poyner’s Shops were the benchmark for the rest of the shops built along Main Street, as well as the only two-storey terrace style buildings in Lilydale.
The story connected to the Poyner Shops, including the handcrafted bricks that were also used to build other local buildings like the current Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, all adds to the significance Ms Thompson said.
Councillor Fiona McAllister raised the question for executive staff member Amanda Kern regarding the implications of wanting to include the Poyner Shops into the current application.
“We would need to have a new recommendation from our heritage consultant to reassess the property and it would delay the planning scheme amendment to undertake that work,” Ms Kern said.
In order not to delay the amendment application, even though councillors were concerned about the 245-247 Main Street shops not being included, the recommendation to request heritage overlays from the planning minister was carried unanimously by all councillors.
Cr Tim Heenan moved the motion to forward the application to the State government, saying he was “very happy and very proud to put forward the recommendation.”
“It is particularly important that we do this work because of course time is moving on and substantial development will come to Lilydale in the future and we need to protect the historical significance,” he said.
Seconding the motion, Cr Richard Higgins said while he supports the investigation into the Poyner buildings gaining heritage overlays, he didn’t want to harm the submission of the other overlays but said he hopes the council will revisit the shops and their significance.
Cr McAllister said even though she would vote in support of the recommendation, she did want to voice her concerns around the oversight.
“There are so many reasons that we apply heritage overlays and the built form is absolutely a key element to it but it is protecting and ensuring the stories of the place and the place that we live in and love are passed on for generations,” she said.
“When I hear of stories like the Poyner Shops, where there have been changes made to them but in terms of the story of Lilydale and also the look and feel of the village that is Lilydale in the Main Street, with the terraced facades, it worries me profoundly that we’re not providing sufficient protection.
“I do feel greatly uncomfortable that we’re missing the opportunity to protect the story of a place and a family and a time and a contribution…I want to reassure [members of the LDHS] that the conversation will continue quickly.”
Some of the buildings the council has requested both permanent and interim heritage overlays for include the Olinda Hotel, the Crown Hotel, the former Hutchinson’s Store, now Hutch & Co, Lilydale Primary School and Lilydale Heritage Railway Station Goods Shed.
The White Dog Hotel has also been identified as needing updates to the Statements of Significance under the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme.
