Public appeal for Old Stone House

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34130, 17 April 1976, Page 7

Public appeal for Old Stone House

A public appeal to raise funds for restore-!, tion of the historic Old I j Stone House in Cash-1 mere will be launched on : May 2 by the Minister 1' of Social Welfare (Mi l Walker). Gutted by fire in 1971 — 101 years after it was built for Sir John Cracroft Wilson for his farm staff — the building could be used as quarters for the Cracroft Community Centre. People will be able to pur- 1 chase $2 certificates which, indicate that they have; bought a stone in the build- j ing. In spite of the fire, the) Old Stone House exterior 1 ■walls are in good condition.'Names of contributors would 1 he fisted in a book inside; th? centre. The Cracroft Community) Centre president (Mr N. F.r Roberts) said on Tuesday that I $13.000 in cash was already!

, available, but the total restoration cost would be about $90,000 if done completely I by contractors. | There could be cost reduc- | tions if volunteer labour was i used in part of the project. A completed centre would i have two floors and a mezi zanine floor. On one floor, one activity room could be used for crafts, with another set aside as a creche during the day. A lounge, dining room, kitchen and meeting room could be provided on the main ground floor. The building has been . leased by the centre, with an j option to purchase, from the !Old Stone House Trust, j Built in the style of old • English farm buildings, the ) structure housed Indian staff i of the first owner along with i other workers. Together, ■ they drained the swamps, I built roads and cultivated ithe land. i Since 1972. the community I centre has been developing

neighbourhood activities. Be-i cause its consitution does not have any area limitations, any resident of the metropolitan district can be a member. The Heathcote County Council has approved a restoration design in principle which would include a reinforced concrete skin, some columns and concrete capping around the gables. All that would be interior work to comply with earthquake codes. A specified departure for use of the building as a community centre has also been granted. Craft groups and other) centre activities have beenj building up a fund to launch) the appeal. The $13,000 fund is about evenly divided be-i tween the community centre, and the Old Stone House) Trust. <