Leeton Family and Local History Society Inc to operate from WCIC Building

19 Sep 2019 3:08 PM -

Leeton Shire Council has unanimously granted the Leeton Family and Local History Society a peppercorn licence to use the Lower Ground Floor at the Water Conservation and Irrigation Building in Chelmsford Place for office accommodation and storage of local heritage archives and artefacts.

Leeton Shire Council Mayor Paul Maytom said that the Leeton Family and Local History Society has for a number of years operated from a small Local History Room at the Leeton Shire Library and the WCIC Building finally affords them the opportunity to appropriately store their growing collection.

“The Society, which is operated by a number of extremely dedicated volunteers, holds a large collection of information, maps, artefacts and photographs relating to the early settlement of the Leeton area. They also compile various other records, publications and artefacts relating to the family and local history of the Leeton Shire. What they do to preserve our heritage is invaluable.”

Councillor Tony Reneker, as the current President of the Leeton Family and Local History Society, declared a conflict of interest and did not participate in the discussion or the vote.  However, he said afterwards that he was delighted with the outcome as space at the library is limited and the recent bequest of records from the late Dorothy Eurell had made the need to find alternative premises even more urgent.

“The acquisition by Council of the former Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission building, which contains secure and safe storage and suitable office accommodation on the lower ground floor level, is the ideal space to meet the Society’s administration, storage requirements and preservation of cultural heritage.”

The lower ground floor of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission building houses extensive compactus systems most suitable for the archival storage of documents and artefacts.

Council also agreed that, in a fitting tribute to her enormous contribution and dedication to the Leeton Family and Local History Society Inc, the new rooms set aside for The Society at the WCIC building will be named the Dorothy Eurell Rooms.