COUNCIL will consider a recommendation to seek expressions of interest for an organisation willing to take on a lease of the century-old Tallegalla School.
The recommendation was made by the Finance and Governance Committee last week after considering a report on the outcomes of community engagement about the future of the school property.
The Council had been looking at surrendering the heritage-listed property back to the State Government as significant renovations were required, until local councillor Jim Madden suggested seeking public consultation on the future of the building.
A $120,000 refurbishment is required to meet current standards, with an additional $180,000 required for ongoing operational maintenance over the next 10 years.
Finance and Governance Committee Chairman Paul Tully said the community engagement showed clear support for the 146-year-old building to remain in community hands.
“The community engagement aimed to raise community awareness, clarify Council’s financial responsibilities should it retain the property, and assess community sentiment regarding the site’s future use,” Cr Tully said.
“A total of 117 respondents provided input on this matter.”
Cr Tully said almost three-quarters of the respondents preferred that Council retain trusteeship rather than give it back to the Queensland Government and an unknown outcome for the building and land.
“The community feedback strongly supports Council retaining trusteeship of the Old Tallegalla School, highlighting its heritage value and potential for future community use, specifically focussed on aligning the trust purposes of heritage, historical and cultural,” he said.
Cr Madden said proceeding with an expression of interest would help identify potential lessees who could contribute to or assume responsibility for the financial obligations in maintaining the building.
The Old Tallegalla School was established in 1879, and for about 115 years it was both an educational institution and a hub for gatherings.
The school has been closed since 1992, with Council responsible for maintaining the property since 1998 when it was granted trusteeship by the State Government.
Division 4 Councillor David Martin said Council was keen to preserve such an important part of Ipswich’s history, heritage and culture.
“Key themes emerging from the community consultation included strong support for heritage preservation, concerns about Council’s financial capacity to rehabilitate the site and a wide range of suggestions for future use – such as educational programs, community spaces, tourism, and accommodation,” Cr Martin said.
“While 73 per cent of respondents preferred Council to retain trusteeship, views were mixed on which entity would best manage the site in alignment with community expectations.”
The main school building is an example of Ipswich’s earliest colonial history and the growth of small bush communities in the 1800s.
“But given the current state of the buildings, it must be considered whether another organisation is better placed to meet the restoration requirements of these buildings,” Cr Martin said.
The recommendation was due to be considered at today’s Council meeting.
