Mid-West homesteads awarded State Government heritage grants

1/11/02
Two projects in the Mid-West region will receive a total of $35,800 through the 2002-2003 Heritage Grants Program to assist with their conservation, Environment and Heritage Minister Dr Judy Edwards announced today.
Administered by the Heritage Council of Western Australia, the grants are part of a $398,200 allocation, which will support 24 conservation projects across the State. More than 60 per cent of funds have been allocated to regional projects.
"Melangata Homestead in the Shire of Yalgoo will receive $30,000 for conservation works and Koogereena Homestead in Greenough will receive $5,800 for a conservation plan," Dr Edwards said.
"A conservation plan is recognised as the primary guiding document for the conservation of a heritage place. It recommends and prioritises various conservation works to ensure the heritage value of the place is conserved for future generations."
Dr Edwards said Melangata Homestead was an unusual and sophisticated building, designed to respond to the extremely hot and arid climate of the region.
"Built in 1916, the homestead is the only domestic place in Australia designed by the renowned architect and priest John Cyril Hawes," she said.
"It is regarded as an 'oasis' in an otherwise harsh environment, and with its little chapel was a significant outpost for priests visiting the isolated region in the 1920s.
"Melangata also has a close association with the development of the Yalgoo region and with the pastoral boom."
Dr Edwards said Koogereena was a large single-storey homestead set amongst palm trees on the west side of the Kojarena Road in the Shire of Greenough.
"The Federation Free Style building, with an Art Nouveau influence, is socially and historically significant for its associations with the early pastoral and farming activities of the region and is integral to Greenough's built heritage," she said.
"Koogereena is also significant for its association with Randolph Stowe's book 'Merry-Go-Round in the Sea', which features descriptions of the property under the name Andarra."
Further details of grants allocated to Mid-West projects in 2002-03 are listed below.
Minister's office: 9220 5050