The old railway house in Cochrane Park sits idle. 68850
By Danielle Galvin
THE future of the old railway house on Rossiter Road in Kooweerup is in limbo, as the council decides what to do with the abandoned and vandalised residence.
From the Kooweerup Township Committee’s perspective, it has to go.
“It’s vandalised and falling down. The township committee wants it moved,” said vice-president Ray Brown.
The council earlier looked into moving it to the hospital and refurbishing it to be used as a centre for troubled youth.
Ray said the railway house was compromising the beautification of Cochrane Park project and halting the next stage of the master plan.
He said it was about time the house was moved from its current location.
“We want to build a pathway around the perimeter of the park and plant trees. We would like to see it move forward.”
Cardinia Shire Councillor Stuart Halligan weighed in to the discussion at the township meeting on Wednesday 3 August.
He explained that the council had been approached by a private buyer, but the cost of refurbishment was too high.
Cr Halligan noted another proposal to move the house to the Bayles Fauna Park was also looking unlikely.
“Considering the budget has been closed off, I’m not sure that’s possible at this time of year. But I hope that it could be.”
The council purchased the property three years ago.
“We took it on as a project to either be demolished or moved somewhere else.”
Cr Halligan said the township committee wanted it demolished to hurry the Cochrane Park beautification project.
While the house is not heritage listed, the council wanted the historical value of the railway house to be preserved.
“We are desperate to find an interested party to take on the house as a project.”
