The City of Greater Bendigo has prepared a draft Stage 2 Heritage Study for the former Shire of Huntly, which is now open for public consultation.
The former Shire of Huntly covered areas including Ascot, Bagshot, Drummartin, Elmore, Epsom, Fosterville, Goornong, Kamarooka and parts of Huntly, East Bendigo and Longlea.
Stage 1 of the study was completed in 2021 and community members shared valuable local knowledge about the former Shire of Huntly, provided photographs, stories and records that have helped to fill in historical details for places or precincts with potential significance.
Topics included events that confirmed the significance of building periods within the area, the establishment of community and social infrastructure (including health, sporting, and social places), and the development of distinct phases of housing, including early settlement, early mining, and agriculture.
Manager Strategic Planning Anthony Petherbridge said a draft Stage 2 Heritage Study was the next step in the project.
"The Stage 2 draft goes a lot further and includes detailed assessments of places and precincts that were identified as part of the Stage 1 of the study. This determines their heritage significance according to a set of recognised criteria," Mr Petherbridge said.
"This draft study makes recommendations for applying the Heritage Overlay to places found to be of local significance, and one place which may meet the threshold for state significance.
"Community members and businesses are invited to attend one of three engagement drop-in sessions to provide feedback on the draft study.
Feedback will help the City understand if any changes are needed before the draft is presented to a future Council meeting for adoption."
City staff will be available to answer questions about the recommended Heritage Overlay for properties and areas that have been identified in the draft study as places of significance in the former Shire of Huntly.
"Community members are encouraged to register for a 15-minute appointment at one of the information sessions."
Owners and occupiers with properties identified through the study will also receive a letter about the findings and any potential impacts on their property.
Three information drop-in sessions are taking place in May:
- Session 1: Elmore Community Hub, 1pm to 5pm on Thursday May 1, 2025
- Session 2: Huntly Memorial Hall, 1pm to 4pm on Thursday May 8, 2025
- Session 3: Goornong Memorial Hall, 5pm to 7pm on Monday May 12, 2025
Public consultation closes on Sunday May 18.
