Two Mid West properties approved for heritage grants under State Government’s program

The State Government has provided two historic Mid West properties — Northampton’s Bowes Homestead and Newmarracarra Homestead outside Geraldton — with a combined $140,000 as part of its heritage grants scheme. The two homesteads were among 38 other heritage projects chosen by the State Government under the $1.33 million grant program. Located in Northampton, the Bowes Homestead received the majority of the grant money, with $90,000 provided for heritage works. According to the State Government it will go towards a “variety of essential repair works to restore the site as part of plans to reactivate the heritage place with future development.” Newmarracarra, in Bringo about 15 minutes outside of Geraldton, will benefit from a “variety of essential masonry and structural works, aimed at ‘building back better’ to ensure the home is resilient against future natural disasters following the devastating impacts of cyclone Seroja in April 2021.” Owner of the property, City of Greater Geraldton deputy mayor Jerry Clune, said winning the grant came as quite a surprise as he had been rejected in the past. “There’s still a fair bit of paperwork to go with that to comply with the grant, so we will do all that,” he said. “It’s one of the original homesteads that was built in the late 1880s, early 1900s. Quite a substantial-sized building. So it is heritage listed.” Cr Clune said he was pleased that the grant application was successful and that he could get on with the restoration. “It’s a pretty iconic building for the time and place when it was built. So yeah, we don’t want to let it crumble down,” he said. He said the funds would go towards maintaining the property, along with his own money. “That certainly will progress the restoration of it anyway. So pretty lucky to get hold of that,” Cr Clune said. “There’s been a conservation plan on the property for several years. So we’ll just be abiding by that and working with that.” As well as being a hub of social activity in its heyday, Newmarracarra was also used by the army as a hospital during World War II and for school camps during the late 1970s.