Shifting history

THE old Fulham post office, or the even older Junction Hotel, is enjoying a slight change in scenery — moving 30 metres to its west.

Following months of consideration and community angst, VicRoads has relocated the building from the immediate corner of the Princes Highway and Sale-Heyfield Rd.

After more than a year of consultation, the building was moved in a day.

It involved jacking the building up, craning it over its new position to mark out stump locations, putting it on the back of a truck while stumps were installed, and then shifting it into its final resting place.

Originally built close to the ground, she’s on sturdier legs these days — with flashy new concrete stumps.

The original verandah and fence could not be salvaged, but will be replaced as a replica of what once was, along with cladding on the west wall, replacing an asbestos extension.

While plenty of hardwood and baltic pine lining kept the interior walls and ceiling firmly together, much of the flooring crumbled, and will be replaced.

The original fireplace will also be replicated. VicRoads south-eastern region project delivery manager David Gellion said the building, while holding significant local significance, needed to be relocated to improve motorist visibility and could not safely house residents due to the risk of a collision.

“Some of the younger guys were a bit pessimistic that it was going to fall over, but the older, experienced guys said it was never going to be a problem, so not a lot of problems in the end,” he said.

“The old building was nearly built on the ground so they had to get steelworks to strengthen it to brace it and lift it.”

Mr Gellion said its future purpose is still up in the air, and would be re-examined once the block was ready for sale.

“We’re preserving it and making it hopefully last so people can look in another 50 years can look and it’ll still be there,” he said.

The building, bought by VicRoads in mid-2016, was brought into contention following VicRoads’ announcement in January of last year that it would demolish the building within a month.

At the time, VicRoads explained the house’s distance from the road, highway noise and constant light from street lights resulted in unlivable conditions for occupants.

The site was to become road reserve and pastoral grazing land.

While VicRoads compiled a consultants’ report to historically record the building, local historians were quick to point out a number of errors, including the building spanning back some 30 years earlier than the report concluded, as John McElligott was advertising his ‘Junction Hotel’ in the Gippsland Times of October 5, 1872.

Local historians said Wellington Shire Council’s failure to place heritage overlay on the building was an oversight, and in March 2017, VicRoads told the Gippsland Times that the historic building would be relocated as a direct result of community feedback.

Currently, VicRoads is searching for photos of original signage on the building, circa 1960, in order to fully restore the building to its former glory.

Those who may have such photos can phone the Gippsland Times on 5143 9345.