Snapshot of the past

This week’s snapshot shows the demolition of the verandah on the railway Hotel in Queen St, Warragul by Finlay & Son of Drouin in February 1968.

The original verandah was replaced with an “art deco” frontage to modernise the hotel in the 1930s but in the 1950s all verandahs that were not cantilever had to be removed, the only one to survive was the Royal Hotel on the corner of Queen Street and Smith Street now La Passion).

In 2006 with the encouragement of the Baw Baw Council, who were keen to preserve the

A push to mandate for blocks in residential developments to be set aside for social housing is being advocated by Cardinia Shire Council to address a growing number of people struggling to afford somewhere to live.

The initiative is one of a number of recommendations adopted by council in its Social and Affordable Housing Strategy 2019-2015.

It is recommending new sub-divisions of 100 or more residential allotments be required to have at least two per cent of them allocated for social housing and the number of smaller dwellings, eg two bedroom homes, be boosted.

A report to council said there was a significant and growing number of lower income and vulnerable residents in the shire without access to appropriate, secure and affordable housing. heritage in Queen Street, the proprietors of the hotel re-built the current double storey verandah with steel frame work and wrought iron lace attached to the frame work, so restoring the original appearance of the hotel.

Photo and information courtesy of the Warragul and District Historical Society. The society’s museum at the Old Shire Hall in Queen St, Warragul displays a range of historical photographs.

It is open every Thursday between 10am and 2pm and the second and fourth Sunday of each month between 2pm and 4pm.

Fewer than one per cent of all dwellings in the shire are dedicated for social housing and the affordability of private rental dwellings in Cardinia has dropped from 68 per cent in 2000 to just 28 per cent.

The report identified younger and older people, singles, sole parents and those with disabilities or mental health issues as facing the greatest problems and more than 200 people were already “sleeping rough” throughout the shire.

Council agreed to seek more State and Federal government investment in social housing and homelessness support with homelessness in the shire already estimated to cost the State government about $5.65 million a year.

It was also decided to establish a steering committee, to be chaired by a councillor, to oversee implementation of the strategy.