Gathering Space Shelter
UPDATED 17 April 2024
Congratulations to Growing Winchelsea, community members and the many school and kindergarten children who contributed to the construction of a cob wall feature at the gathering space shelter.
Many willing hands helped make, cure, carry, stack and lay mud and straw bricks to create the cob wall, which was then rendered, and now provides a reflection of the mud hut which formerly stood on the site.
Growing Winchelsea and passionate members of the community including Alison Dean, led the seven-day construction event, which was overseen by Mud Fun Australia, and was rich in community spirit.
Image: Alison Dean
UPDATED 20 May 2024
Timber-topped picnic furniture now complements the new Barwon River Gathering Space shelter.
Tables and seats were installed earlier this month to accompany the free barbecue, enhancing a welcoming riverside space for community members and visitors.
The shelter brings to life community-led designs, replacing the former Mud Hut which was no longer safe.
We look forward to seeing community members and visitors making the most of the shelter and enjoying its riverside setting.
December 2023
The new Barwon River gathering space shelter is taking shape, with construction underway.
The structure is due for completion by the end of the month and internal furniture is on order and will be installed about March 2024.
Landscaping work around the shelter including addition of an access ramp and stairs is expected to be completed during the first few months of 2024.
October 2023
The project continues with demolition of the original hut now complete, and final engineering and fabrication of the new structure underway.
The new building, to occupy the existing footprint beside the Barwon River, will bring to life community-led designs for the enjoyment of local and visiting users for years to come.
Construction of the new hut is expected to start in early November, with completion estimated for the end of November.
Final phase demolition of the existing structure started on 11 September.
June 2023
The Winchelsea Mud Hut renewal project has progressed to construction phase; however, partial demolition of the hut has revealed the presence of fauna, including a microbat, meaning full demolition will not proceed until September.
Council’s contracted ecologist discovered a microbat (pictured below) and a small lizard during careful removal of sections of the structure and believes more microbats might be located in ridge capping, which could not be removed due to the instability of the building.
Next phase of demolition of the hut will be done during September using machinery, due to safety precautions. Other microbats located in the building are more likely to have moved on by then but our ecologist will be on site during demolition for careful removal of the ridge capping to safely relocate any which remain.
Full demolition will not proceed until the ecologist is satisfied all fauna is safe.
Council is now waiting on updated time frames from suppliers for work on the replacement shelter, including design, engineering, fabrication and an on-site starting date.
The site will remain fenced off until the full demolition is complete and the area made safe.
Council greatly appreciates the contributions and patience of dedicated Project Control Group and Winchelsea community members as we progress towards construction of the new shelter, and looks forward to seeing the new community-led design come to life to be enjoyed by the community for years to come.
