THE “fantastic mystery” of Banjo Paterson’s rumoured birthplace and the restoration of Emmaville cottage will take centre stage in a new documentary series on ABC TV.
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Restoration Australia, which began on Tuesday, is a seven-part series, hosted by international designer Sibella Court, following the challenges and triumphs of families, and in Emmaville’s case the community, restoring seven old, forgotten buildings to their former glory over a two-year period.
Orange’s historic homestead will not be on screens until episode five, but two of the main faces in the story, Orange councillor Reg Kidd and Rotary Club of Orange’s Mick Doyle are looking forward to watching the episode on September 29.
Cr Kidd, who was involved in the filming process from start to finish, said the documentary would immortalise the community’s effort.
“It was a long time, a lot of work was put in by a lot of people. We’ll all be looking back at it thinking ‘oh gee, what a great effort’,” he said.
Cr Kidd said the show would encourage more tourists with an interest in the bard to visit Orange.
“An hour doesn’t sound like a long time but it will definitely bring people to the city. I know if I see something on TV it sticks in the back of your mind and you end up visiting that place,” he said.
Mr Doyle, who was president of the club at the time of the restoration and took on the job of restoration project manager, echoed Cr Kidd when he said he hoped it would help put Orange on the map.
“It’s a wonderful story, he was not only historically significant but the building itself is a historically significant homestead,” Mr Doyle said.
“[The rumours go] hand in glove with Banjo, he was a pretty mysterious man.”
Producer Max Mackinnon said while it took a little effort to convince his bosses at the ABC to include Emmaville in the program, as the brief for the show “was very much owner-builders”, the intrigue surrounding the claim of Banjo’s birthplace and the rare 1850’s flat-pack style of building helped it get over the line.
But Mr Mackinnon said the contrasting views of those working on the project about Banjo’s birthplace and the added controversy of councillor Chris Gryllis’ Akubra hat sculpture made the episode especially unique.
He said the Emmaville episode would be dedicated to the cottage’s window restorer Peter Kircher, who died suddenly after an asthma attack earlier this year.
Restoration Australia airs at 8.30pm on Tuesdays on ABC.
alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au
