By BRIDGET COOK
AS CLYDE sets to boom with urban development, members of the community are calling for an integral part of the town’s heart and history to remain intact.
A group of local residents are calling on developers Villawood Properties and the City of Casey to ensure the heritage-listed Hill Farm cottage is not lost from the Clyde community.
Villawood Properties’ executive director Tony Johnson said the cottage at Hill Farm Park in Pasadena would be converted into a picnic and barbecue shelter, with elements of the cottage and fencing incorporated into the park’s design.
History for the cottage dates back to 1852 and has connections with a pioneering family of the Clyde district – the Gates.
The most recent occupants of the cottage were Clive Pitman and his family, who lived in the house until about 1960 and are still residents in the area.
Resident Cheryl Wilson, who is leading the push to save the cottage, said it was important to keep buildings like this that have a rich historical connection to the area.
Ms Wilson said with so much development planned for the Clyde area, she said some of the town’s history needed to stay intact.
“This town has a heart, soul and important history and we don’t want to see it lost,” she said.
Ms Wilson said ever since Villawood purchased the land in 2010 the cottage’s state has gone downhill, with part of the roof caving in in 2012.
She said that she felt Villawood intended to let it the house fall into a state of disrepair and then apply for a demolition order.
“At this time I became concerned that the house was falling into disrepair,” she said.
Ms Wilson said she contacted Villawood and suggested they put a tarp over the roof, something they did not do.
“The next time I called, a lady only suggested that maybe they could put a fence around it, which wasn’t going to help the roof,” she said.
“I felt back then that they had no intention of preserving the house.
“I am annoyed that Villawood are using the pictures of the house very heavily in their advertising campaigns to lure people to a country life, but they plan to demolish everything in their path.”
Cranbourne resident and Clive Pitman’s daughter Val Duncan, who lived at Hill Farm as a child, said it would be very sad to see it go.
“It is connected to so much history of the area and is significant because of the way it was built,” she said.
“It was much bigger when we lived there, with seven rooms and a verandah all the way around.
“A lot of it fell down after we left, but the two original rooms still exist.
“It would be really nice to see it stay.
“I hope it doesn’t get to a state where it’s beyond saving, and I feel it’s on its way.”
Villawood Properties executive director Tony Johnson said they were currently in the process of designing a new concept for the Hill Farm Park space at Pasadena, in conjunction with the City of Casey and professional consultants.
“This design includes the cottage at Hill Farm Park being converted into a picnic and barbecue shelter as part of a brand new and interactive park area,” he said.
“This will be enjoyed by residents and the community for many generations to come.
“In the design of the area, elements of the cottage and fencing will be maintained wherever possible and Villawood is planning to use many of the original materials in the redesign.
“The park will celebrate the history of the farm cottage and commemorate the heritage of the farming community that once worked that land.”
