Socially significant

Aheritage study has highlighted the enduring local social significance of Horsham City Oval’s grandstand.

Horsham Rural City councillors have supported the recommendation of heritage assessment and heritage citation reports to list the grandstand, which marks its centenary next year, among its ‘Heritage Study Review 2023’.

Providing the grandstand with a local heritage citation gives greater consideration to its future.

The grandstand had been earmarked for demolition and replacement with new infrastructure under the council’s 2019 City to River masterplan.

Councillor Claudia Haenel told last month’s council meeting the grandstand had been home to ‘countless’ sporting and recreation events and would mark its centenary in April 2024.

“That is why it must be saved and preserved,” she said.

“It’s so important to keep the heart and soul and very rich tapestry of our community connection to these heritage buildings and places, and hopefully it will be the start for more in our municipality.”

The heritage assessment and heritage citation reports came after community calls, in the wake of the release of the City to River masterplan, to save the grandstand.

The subsequent assessment placed less importance on the physical building of the grandstand, and stressed the social and historical associations among the community.

It is the latest step in a years-long quest to recognise its significance – including Heritage Council Victoria’s determination in 2020 that it did not have state significance to gain inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Cr David Bowe said the grandstand’s history, design and community was the ‘trifecta’ in recognising its importance to the community.

Cr Ian Ross said it was unfortunate previous generations of decision-makers had not preserved historic buildings in Horsham.

“One of our biggest crimes was our post office was knocked down a long time ago. We need to preserve some of the things that we do have, so we do have some history,” he said.

The heritage assessment and heritage citation reports compared the grandstand to other grandstands across Victoria, which are recognised locally and at state-level in varying ways.

The reports noted Horsham’s grandstand was ‘modest’ in comparison and was best suited to recognition at a local level.

Cr Penny Flynn noted the grandstand had undergone repairs in the past 20 years, including termite and wood-rot damage repair and replacement of timber seating and framing, leaving it in ‘fair’ condition.

The reports noted the council could consider works to improve the appearance of the grandstand to reflect a more original configuration – including replacing metal wall cladding with more appropriate materials, repair or replace remaining timber cladding, reinstate timber seating and include ‘interpretive material’ to help visitors understand its heritage value.

Cr Les Power said the grandstand had heritage value but questioned its accessibility for all.

The Horsham Heritage Study Review has been prepared and will come before councillors for consideration in coming months.