The 2016 Heritage Month activities were held at the privately owned section of Willow Court after the Derwent Valley Council refused to discuss or second a motion put forward by Councillor Frank Pearce to have the Council’s own committee hold the activities in the recently restored council owned area.
Haydn and Penny Pearce opened the doors of their private area of Willow Court, including the 1860’s built, Ladies Cottage for the Friends of Willow Court, Heather Burke Associate Professor in Archaeology at Flinders University and Mark Woodley, Heritage Plasterer, who has been restoring the original wall around the Council owned land.
The event was well supported by the public with a number of people attending either both days or both events in the one day and enjoying lunch at the well loved Patchwork Cafe.
Frascati House enjoyed their Heritage activities the weekend before and were fortunate enough not be be locked out by the Council.
Heritage Tasmania activities are held throughout Tasmania’s best Heritage sites and supported by both the Friends groups who understand the heritage values of each of the sites.
There wasn’t any activity on the DVC owned Willow Court site during the weekend and the site remained locked.
Above. Associate Professor Heather Burke outside the locked gates of Willow Court with paying guests. (c) Copyright 2016
The next meeting of the Derwent Valley Council has a proposal:
8.1 Cr Bester – Terms of Reference – Friends of Willow Court Special Committee
1a. To work with Council to maintain public areas at the Willow Court Precinct
(excluding Frescati House and Garden, the Community Garden and privately-owned
properties in the precinct).
1b. To suggest projects to improve visitor amenity.
1c. To help foster community support for the site.
The Friends of Willow Court Special Committee has had to wait an unreasonably long time for a council response to its proposed Terms of Reference.
The local news team covered the Friends of Frascati Heritage event but there wasn’t any article for the four tours run by the FoWC.