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Rural towns receive State Government grants

16 September 2009

The State Government has given almost half a million dollars to the District Council of Grant to build a new maritime museum and community complex at Port MacDonnell.

Regional Development Minister Paul Caica announced that the State Government would provide $497,000 through the Rural Towns Development Fund.

The new building will be located next to the Library and Rural Transaction Centre at a total cost of $665,000, with the balance of the funds being provided by the Port MacDonnell Museum, the RSL and the District Council of Grant.

'Port MacDonnell is a beautiful town that proudly holds the title of Australia's Southern Rock Lobster Capital,' Minister Caica says.

'It boasts a number of heritage buildings, including Dingly Dell cottage, where the poet Adam Lindsay Gordon lived, as well as the 1882 Lighthouse and the 1862 Customs House.

'I'm told that in summer the population of Port McDonnell can increase some eight-fold.

'During this time, the museum is one of the town's most popular tourist attractions, displaying an interesting collection of maritime artefacts that tell the story of Port MacDonnell as an historic trading port.

'It's now time for a larger and more up-to-date building to house the museum, accommodate an expanded number of displays and overcome safety concerns with the existing 1876 building.'

The new building will include a visitor's entrance, large open space for museum displays, a meeting area, separate kitchen, workroom, storage and toilets.

The Port MacDonnell construction is one of two projects being funded this year by the Rural Town Development Fund, with the other project being the construction of an iconic Boot Maker's Shop at Mylor with State Government providing $3,000 to fund the project.

The Mylor Citizens Friendship Club has decided to demolish the existing unsafe Boot Maker's Shop structure and rebuild it with suitable second-hand materials.

Minister Caica announced that the total cost of the project will be $5000, with the balance of the funds provided by the Adelaide Hills Council.

'The Boot Maker's Shop, located next to the Cooper's grain store and local shop, has long been a tourist drawcard,' Mr Caica said.

'For two years, the Mylor community has been planning a suitable preservation solution.

'This grant will enable them to remove the old structure, allowing an archaeological dig to take place, and then for a replica to be built using local knowledge and labour.'

The Rural Towns Development Fund was set up in 2006 to assist iconic projects in regional towns across South Australia.