Yea and District Historical Society is still using the 'Save Carters' theme, despite a building inspection report condemning the building

Yea and District Historical Society says it “looks highly unlikely that we will reach the purchase price of $300,000” to purchase Carter’s Milk Bar prior to the April 12 deadline.

Society Secretary-Treasurer Elaine White challenges Society President John Bett’s statement earlier this month that the Carter’s Milk Bar building would need to be bulldozed “at the earliest opportunity”.

“There has never been any decision to ‘bulldoze the building at the earliest opportunity’,” Mrs White says.

A building inspection last month revealed that the premises were unsafe, that there was a major termite problem, and that there was asbestos in the power box on the shop facade.

Despite knowing the results of the inspection, the Society decided to keep the report confidential, and continued to raise donations on the theme of “save Carter’s”.

Mrs White’s letter of acknowledgement to donors has come under fire, on social media. In that letter, Mrs White continued the theme of saving Carter’s.

“We are delighted that you see the potential of this iconic site and appreciate the heritage of the Carter family that makes this building doubly appealing to the community,” Mrs White’s February 11 letter to a donor says.

The Society, as at Friday morning (Mar. 15), is still using that “save Carter’s” theme at the GiveNow website: “The Yea & District Historical Society is appealing for support and assistance to retain the iconic Carter’s premises as a Heritage Centre for Yea.

“At the moment it is probably the “ugly duckling” of the main street but members feel with a little cosmetic TLC it can become a very attractive heritage building. Yea Historical Society members feel that all who grew up knowing the Carter family have many fond memories of them and this building holds a special place to all local and past residents,” the Society claims at the website.

“Help us to secure the Carters building and make the dream of a museum for Yea a reality,” the Society says at the website.

The GiveNow fundraising campaign carries Mrs White’s address, phone number of email address. The website asks for donations of various amounts of up to $1000.

On Thursday night (Mar. 14), Mrs White issued a statement on behalf of the Society: “The Yea and District Historical Society members would like to bring the local community up-to-date on the current situation with their bid to purchase the Carter’s premises as a Yea Heritage Centre.

“A generous donation was received by the society specifically to obtain a comprehensive building inspection of the premises. The society has always made it public that we had full intention of restoring the former Carter’s shop but that the dwelling was in such a sad state that demolition was a possibility. Members were dismayed to find the shop has also been declared unsafe to open to the public and restoration could be beyond an economic possibility.

“However, at an emergency meeting, members decided to go ahead with trying to raise the funds to purchase this iconic site and that, if we are successful, we would retain the façade in memory of the Carter’s family. We are also aware that the façade has a heritage overlay.

“As we do not own the building this was all conjecture. There has never been any decision to ‘bulldoze the building at the earliest opportunity”. Members are fully aware that nothing could be done without full consultation with the shire planning department and the local community and this could only ever take place when and if we are successful in purchasing Carters.

“The society has had an informal meeting with Murrindindi Shire officers, not to apply for permits, but for planning officers to familiarise themselves with the interior of the building and the general condition of the site. They are also in possession of the building inspection report.

“With only a few short weeks until the April 12 settlement date and with the funding appeal sitting at only $90,000, it looks highly unlikely that we will reach the purchase price of $300,000.

“As President John Bett has mentioned nearly every community asset in Yea and District has been publicly funded through the generosity of the local community,” Mrs White said.

“These local assets include the Yea & District Memorial Hospital funded as a permanent memorial to our fallen men and women in the second world war, the Rosebank Extended Care Centre and the Nursing Home Appeals, the Yea Swimming Pool, the Masonic Lodge Hall, the RSL Hall, our local churches, the original galvanised iron fence around the Yea Showgrounds and Recreation Reserve donated by local farmers, and most of our community halls funded by our early settlers and still maintained by their own local communities.

“Yea has a very proud tradition of getting things done and of volunteerism. We hope a Yea Heritage Centre may be the next community asset, not only for the local community but as a tourism attraction also,” Mrs White said.

Mr Bett is due to undergo surgery at a Melbourne hospital today (Fri.), and his stay is expected to be about five days.