MILDURA Council says it consulted widely before agreeing to realign the steps of a 100-year-old Deakin Avenue rotunda as part of the centre plantation redevelopment.
The DeSailly Rotunda, between Eighth and Ninth streets, was opened in 1914 to commemorate the late Cr George DeSailly, who served on the Shire of Mildura from 1908 until his death in July 1913.
Steps leading to the stage of the rotunda have historically faced Deakin Avenue to the east, but have now been removed to realign the steps with the centre pathway of the centre median, so that they face south towards the statue of Mildura founder W.B. Chaffey.
A council spokesperson said it had consulted its heritage advisor, Mildura and District Historical Society and the Mildura Upland Sister City Association since February 2018 before deciding on the realignment.
The spokesperson said the DeSailly Rotunda was among several important historical monuments in the second stage of the Deakin Avenue redevelopment that would be carefully preserved and restored.
“This change was made in line with the approved Deakin Avenue Masterplan to provide safe access to the rotunda and to improve the aesthetics of the site,” the spokesperson said.
“Council’s heritage advisor determined the realignment of the rotunda steps was an appropriate treatment.
“Other considerations include ensuring any new sugar gum plantings are a suitable distance from the structure to allow usable space around the rotunda for live performances and associated small crowds.
“Council will continue to work closely with our heritage advisor during this stage of the redevelopment progresses.”
A meeting of community representatives in 1913 favoured the idea of a band rotunda providing the structure was centrally placed and was of a thoroughly permanent nature.
The meeting formally agreed: “That this meeting considers that the most suitable form of memorial would be a permanent band rotunda, to be erected in the town, and that the committee take steps to obtain subscriptions for such object and, if necessary, report to a subsequent meeting of subscribers to be called for the purpose.”
The original Chaffey fountain and King George seat will be among the other features to be retained and protected during the works, which began last month.
The $1 million suite of works aims to transform the centre median, continuing the design of the first stage of the redevelopment between Ninth and Tenth streets completed in 2018.
About 20 sugar gums will be planted, grown from the same seed stocks as those that originally stood in Deakin Avenue, dating back to the Chaffey brothers era.
They will replace the established sugar gums, which were removed in June 2019 due to the public safety risk posed by falling limbs.
Works are expected to continue until September with intermittent impacts on Deakin Avenue traffic and pedestrian access.
