Funding comes through for Old Fire House
by SANDI MILLER
11th March 2026
FUNDING FOR the remediation of the Old Warrandyte Fire House is one step closer, as Federal Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King visited the Warrandyte Mechanics’ Institute to see what the promised government funding will cover.
Member for Menzies, Gabriel Ng, told the Diary that he was delighted that all the contracts have been signed off for the Old Warrandyte Fire House to be repaired.
“It was eaten by termites, and so we were able to make an election commitment to fix it up so that the fantastic Warrandyte Arts Pottery Group can continue to use it, and continue to expand and provide an opportunity for creativity, and that sense of community that people get from the pottery group”.
Ms King said Mr Ng, as the Labor Candidate for Menzies, came to her in the lead up to last year’s election and said, “we’ve got a project in Warrandyte that we’d like to see funded”.
She said she was and really keen to see more arts projects funded.
“We fund a lot of sport — which is also really important for young people — but arts is really important as well.”
During the Federal election, both major parties pledged $187,500 towards repairs to the building.
Ms King explained that they were very grateful to have won the election so they could get the ball rolling on their commitments.
“My department takes all of those election commitments and assesses them.
“That process is now concluded, and I get a report that says, this is value for taxpayer money — we absolutely think this should go ahead.
“I have now signed off on that, and the money will start to flow to this really terrific project”,
Secretary of Warrandyte Arts Grant Purdy said with support from the Community Bank Warrandyte and the local Rotary club, and through its own fundraising activities, Warrandyte Arts has paid for the basic work to make the old building safe — after it was severely attacked by termites.
“However, the upper workrooms are now just a ‘shell’, and the Federal Government grant will be used to create and fit out purpose-built pottery workrooms and kiln room.”
He said the Federal funds will also be used to renovate the original downstairs “garage”, turning it into a multipurpose area for a range of arts activities, as a community meeting room, and as a community arts gallery.
Ms King said she knows how important community spaces are, and often a lot of it is ageing.
“I like to try and get a look at as many of these projects as I possibly can, because you get a real sense of why they’re important.
“I have now seen the ‘before’, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the ‘after’ is going to look like.
“And I think it’ll be something pretty special for the community.”
Mr Purdy said that they are looking forward to working with Manningham Council, who are sponsoring the project, to ensure early release of the grant funds so that work can start soon and the pottery group can move into the new workrooms before winter comes.
