By Aaron Cordy
THE Greater Shepparton Heritage Advisory Committee (HAC) in conjunction with Greater Shepparton City Council have launched the first of 62 heritage plaques as part of the Greater Shepparton Heritage Plaques Pilot Program, at Foresters Hall in Shepparton, Thursday, May 9.
In March 2020, HAC agreed to investigate the Pilot Program as a cost-effective way to promote buildings and structures of significance in the region. The 62 plaques will be found in Dookie, Byrneside, Cashel, Katandra West, Merrigum, Mooroopna, Mooroopna North, Murchison, Murchison East, Shepparton, Tallygaroopna, Tatura, Toolamba and Undera.
The plaques are heritage blue in colour and have QR codes which eventually link to information about the sight.
“The original thought behind the plaques program came from our committee’s belief that Greater Shepparton City Council was lagging behind other municipalities in recognising our heritage by the fact that we had very few plaques on buildings by comparison,” said HAC member John Dainton AM.
Speaking at the event, Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, praised the work of the Heritage Advisory Committee to establish the Pilot Program in the region.
“The Heritage Advisory Committee have put in a mountain of work, dating back to 2020, to get this program underway. The history of these assets is a really important part of our region, and we are proud to be able to promote the buildings and structures of cultural significance within Greater Shepparton,” he said.
To find out more about the Greater Shepparton Heritage Plaques Pilot Program, visit greatershepparton.com.au/bpi/planning/strategic-planning/cultural-heritage/heritage-plaques-pilot-program