New home for Merbein District Historical Society

Published on 29 March 2021

Mildura Rural City Council has partnered with Merbein District Historical Society (MDHS) to create a new home for Society members in Merbein.

Up until now, MDHS members have been based at a Council-leased building on the corner of Commercial and O’Bryan Streets, which was no longer able to meet the growing group’s needs.

Following a number of discussions between Society members and Council staff an opportunity was identified to relocate the MDHS to the former Sunraysia Community Health Services building in Box Street Merbein, which had recently become available.

Supported by Council’s Community Plan Support Fund, the Box Street building has undergone a major interior refurbishment and upgrade, providing the MDHS with a new home.

As part of the arrangement the MDHS will lease half of the refurbished building, providing an opportunity for another group or business to lease the remaining space in the future.

Councillor for Community Development and Gender Equality Helen Healy said the result was a larger, freshly refurbished home for Society members, providing more opportunities for them to continue their work.

“This is a great result for both the Merbein District Historical Society and the broader community,” Cr Healy said.

“Merbein District Historical Society members have a new home that will serve them for many years to come and increase opportunities for the community to take part in historical projects and workshops run by Society members.

“The availability of the other half of the building meanwhile could provide an exciting opportunity for other community groups or businesses in the town to move into a freshly-refurbished space.”

ENDS