GRANT TO AID IN MALL REVAMP
RESTORATIONS will soon begin on a former Little Malop St landmark, under a project funded by the city’s latest community grants program.
The City of Greater Geelong on Thursday announced $304,698 in grants — ranging from $1000 to $70,000 — for 45 different clubs and organisations, through its community grants program.
The largest grant was awarded to a Hamilton Group project to revitalise key historic aspects of the Regent Theatre — starting with the once-prominent main window and archway. The building currently stands as a large cream-coloured block after the old theatre’s once-detailed facade was bricked over .
“This new heritage fund will help us devote more resources to ensuring a strong sense of pride can be restored to this building and the mall,” Hamilton Group managing director Cam Hamilton said.
“We look forward to working with the council to help reinvent the mall. It has so much potential to be a beneficial space for Geelong.”
The group has signalled plans to reinvent the site to attract a flagship business for office, entertainment or hospitality uses.
Heritage grants were also awarded for restorations of the 1902-built Currabeg House on Latrobe Tce ($7443), the 1913 former Cheetham Salt building on Little Malop St ($15,000) and the 1880 Gosberton House on Ryrie St ($4500).
Other community grants winners were $10,000 for Humans in Geelong to stage the Humans in Geelong Expo, $10,000 for the Geelong Symphony Orchestra to stage a concert series, $5000 for the Kids Plus Foundation to stage the Kites for Kids event on the waterfront and $1280 for new camping equipment for the Norlane West Scout Group.