After the Friends of Willow Court Committee started restoration of the front gates in October 2012 and concluded in November (Gates Completed) in an attempt to get the ball rolling with restoration at the site we saw yesterday a leak from the Derwent Valley Council to the Mercury about a briefing given by David Llewellyn about further restoration works that are about to start in April. The unsigned article informed the Public that;

“In a briefing to the council, they (David Llewellyn and project manager Brett Noble) said the installation of a power supply was almost complete, giving a kick-start to further works.

Mr Noble said there was about $1.5 million available to do the priority work and it would have to go a long way.

This included the development of a visitor centre in a wing of the adjacent Bronte building (1925).

He said the two buildings were in remarkably good condition and it would be possible to reuse many original features, including doors and windows.

The site would soon close to all visitors for six to eight months”

Full Mercury article.

While this article states that the site will be closed for six to eight months, Project Officer Brett Noble is in discussion with the Friends of Willow Court about holding events that have been planned for the next few months.

The Conservation Committee sort a report from Dr Jane Harrington about restoration and Priority Conservation Works on the Willow Court Precinct and this was presented to the Derwent Valley Council in November 2012. These works are of great importance and the report highlighted three points

The need to preserve and maintain the Barracks building as a matter of urgency

Funding for works to conserve the buildings being immediately available

The potential existing for Barracks and Bronte to be developed as a historic interpretation centre for the site.

Conservation Committee get on with the job.

We (Willow Court Advocay Group) are please that the first official restoration works will occur soon and that this bandage work will assist the site from deteriorating any more. The Friends of Willow Court were informed that Mr Paul Lan and Dr Jane Harrington presented a range of fencing types for Willow Court that would comply with Heritage standards but they haven’t heard anymore about security on the site and hope that something will be in place before work commences and tradesmen are employed.

As soon as talks with Brett Noble have completed a list of events will appear here.