Grants to revitalise WA heritage places

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has welcomed the news that OakabellaStation is among this year’s Heritage Grants recipients, securing $34, 122.00. 

“The station homestead and outbuildings provide us with a glimpse into the past. It is an important record of history in the Midwest,” said Mr Blayney. 

“I am very pleased that it has been selected to receive one of this year’s Heritage Grants. 

“The Jackson family are to be congratulated for their efforts in preserving these significant buildings,” said Mr Blayney. 

“The Belay Farm Group, Walkaway were also successful receiving $14,034.00 as was Tibradden Homestead Group, Kojarena who received $6,390.00.” 

“These properties all provide a window to the past, so it’s very important that their heritage status is recognised through appropriate funding,” said Mr Blayney. 

Western Australians place a high value on our heritage places. The State Government is committed to preserving heritage sites to ensure they continue to play an active role in the life our community.

Private property owners play a big role in preserving and revitalising many heritage buildings and places. Some of this State’s most important heritage places such as homes and commercial buildings in are private ownership.

To help support the maintenance of heritage values of these places for the whole community, the State Government’s Heritage Grants Program provides a total of almost $1.3 million a year, with dollar-for-dollar funding of up to $100,000 to private owners for urgent conservation works or documentation to help plan future works.

This year, 28 projects have been awarded heritage grants – 13 metropolitan and 15 regional projects.

As owners are required to match funds to the projects, this will result in almost $3 million in conservation works around the State.

The grants program offers dollar-for-dollar funding to private owners for urgent conservation works or documentation to help plan future works. It is one of the few grant programs in Australia to assist private owners with the costs associated with maintaining heritage places.

Since the program’s inception in 1997, 745 heritage projects had received grants totalling more than $18 million.