Former Belgrave Grammar School saved from development
A century-old Belgrave building has been saved from demolition thanks to a community vet.
Outer East
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A century-old Belgrave building has been saved from demolition thanks to a community vet.
Stephanna Betts and her colleagues, Kylie Frank and Susan Santoro, had been looking during the last six months for the perfect place to set up their clinic, and applied to
Yarra Ranges Council to buy the former Belgrave Grammar School.
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Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader previously reported the community feared Belgrave would lose another important link to its past if developers demolished the suburb’s oldest building.
Yarra Ranges councillors were accused of being money-hungry after voting to sell the almost 100-year-old former Belgrave Grammar School in July.
But Dr Betts said the group appreciated and valued the heritage of the area and were excited for the opportunity to “sensitively” restore the building in its original style.
“We believe its character and style is a perfect fit for the friendly, approachable veterinary practice that we would like to establish in the heart of Belgrave,” she said.
“Being local residents the local community is important to us.”
She said the practice also wanted to offer animal education sessions with kinders, schools and the community.
“We also recognise the region has a diverse wildlife population and we would like to offer free treatment for wildlife and community education about care for injured wildlife,” Dr Betts said.
Dandenong Ranges Historical Council president Susan Heywood-Downard, who was opposed to the council selling the building, said the buyers sounded promising and would be delighted if the building was sensitively restored.
“If you’re not going to get what you originally wanted then this seems a pretty good consolation prize,” Ms Heywood-Downard said.
Yarra Ranges Cr Mike Clarke said it was a wonderful outcome.
“They seem to be the perfect people wanting to do the right thing by the building, that a lot of preservationists were worried about,” Cr Clarke said.
“It’s also great because there aren’t too many vets in that area.”
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