One of East Orange’s most important, and little known, buildings is to be restored to its former glory under a development application (DA) before Orange City Council.
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The former chambers of the long-defunct East Orange Municipal Council in Dora Street lost its ornate parapet in a wind storm.
Now plans have been presented to not only rebuild the structure but install interpretative signage to identify the building’s history.
An historic photo has revealed the parapet did have wording on it when it was constructed in 1903.
Heritage architect James Nicholson of Adaptive Architects Orange has prepared a report on the work for the DA outlining the building’s history and pushing the case for the work to be done.
“The quirky design of the former East Orange Council chambers is an important relic of the early development of Orange and the item needs to be conserved and reconstructed to preserve that significance,” he said in the report.
“It is an unusual and electic turn of the century design.”
East Orange used the building from 1903 until it amalgamated with Orange Municipal Council in 1912.
Since then it was used by the Holy Trinity Church for a Sunday school and as a church before becoming a private residence.
It has received a major extension at the rear since its council days.
The DA is on public display until Friday July 6.
EAST ORANGE COUNCIL HISTORY
- 1888: Borough of East Orange proclaimed
- 1903: Council moves from Orange Band Hall to Dora Street
- 1912: Amalgamates with Orange Council and chambers close
- 1914: Building bought by Holy Trinity Church for Sunday School classes.
- 1922-1940: Used as a church until St Barnabas church was built in 1940 and it returned to becoming a Sunday School venue.
- 1988: Sold by the church and is now a private residence.