HERITAGE LIVING - National Trust of Australia

Heritage Livingnational TRust of South Australiatrust news continuedHERITAGE LOSTJudy Stafford SecretaryNaracoorte Branch of NTSAThe battle to save the old Convent, known as LaEurana House, at Naracoorte has been lost. Itis being demolished to make way for a shoppingcentre car-park. Naracoorte is mourning yetanother part of its heritage lost forever.The Naracoorte National Trust Branch was alertedto the Convent’s impending demolition in July 2006and immediately notified the local newspaper, theNaracoorte Herald. Quickly a community rallywith about 300 people present was held on a coldevening. The next morning another rally washeld which resulted in people power causing thepostponement of the demolition.Because Naracoorte Lucindale Council hadprocrastinated in instigating a Heritage Survey inits jurisdiction, there was no Heritage Listing onthe two storey stone building which had been partof the Catholic School, previously demolished forthe construction of a shopping centre. Legally theNaracoorte Lucindale Council could not refuse togrant a demolition order but had not informed thecommunity which created a lot of angst. In theface of strong community opposition the Councilagreed to communicate with the developer in aneffort to save the building. The Council later alsoinstigated plans to establish its Heritage List.Richard Woods, the Council’s Heritage Advisor,drew up plans which incorporated the Convent intothe shopping centre extension plans, even creatingmore car parking spaces. The community feltthat the worst was over and that the Convent wassaved.However, in early 2007 the developer rejectedthe plans to incorporate the Convent into hisdevelopment. It became known that the Council’sdemolition order was valid for one year and inresponse to this a community committee to Savethe Convent was established. The NaracoorteConvent was included on National Trust’s Heritageat Risk list for two years.At about this time a company called MammothMovers offered to move the Convent to anotherlocation in the town at a greatly reduced fee if itcould take over ownership once it was relocated.The developer agreed to this plan. NaracoorteLucindale Council offered to supply the landand the Save the Convent Committee agreed toraise the required localcontribution. The movewas expected to be ahuge television eventas the Convent wouldbe the largest buildingever moved in one piecein Australia. Therefore,the balance of the hugeamount was planned to beabove: The old ConventLa Eurana House.Photo Judy Stafford.raised by corporate sponsorship such as televisionrights and advertising.Many fundraising events were held by the Savethe Convent Committee and many promises offinancial support were made which would berealised when the move was imminent. Thecommunity raised a huge amount of money in ashort time but fell short of their commitment.Due to the economic downturn the committeewas unable to secure the corporate sponsorshipneeded. At a meeting with Mammoth Moverstowards the end of 2009, increased costs ofmoving were outlined and the Committee realisedthat the new figure required to move the Conventwas beyond the Naracoorte community.With regret the community were told that theefforts to save the Convent had failed. At this timethere were no rallies, just quiet resignation.Now Naracoorte is losing a beautiful buildingwhich holds many memories for a diverse range ofresidents. It was not a building in poor repair butan elegant well built structure which could havehad a wonderful new lease on life as a focal pointfor the new shopping centre redevelopment.What an opportunity lost (as well as heritage lost).page 11