THE first stages of a restoration program at Croagh Patrick are under way, as part of OCTEC's maintenance program for the historic building.
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OCTEC general manager Andrew McDougall is working with conservation architect Christo Aitken to establish a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the building and grounds.
Mr Aitken has been involved in the conservation of many buildings in the region, including Duntryleague and Bookannan at Byng, and is the heritage adviser to Mudgee, Rylstone, Coolah and Evans councils.
"It is my role to provide conservation guidelines for the interior and exterior, establishing long-term policies for the building," he said.
These include looking at the changes to be made and deciding what is important to the building; what needs to be replaced, maintained and restored; extensions; conservation of the stained glass; colours that have a history with the building and adapting the building to suit OCTEC's needs.
"All these recommendations will come together into the CMP, to enable OCTEC to understand the building and the land's future needs," Mr Aitken said.
Historical archaeologist Tracey Aitken has been studying the history of the building and other buildings in Orange built by John Hale.
"Croagh Patrick, or Llanello as it was first named, was built in 1883," she said.
"Built for the Lane family, it was sold in 1914 to the Patrician Brothers and has since been through the hands of the Daughters of Charity, the Sisters of Mercy, Kinross Wolaroi School and now OCTEC," she said.
OCTEC, which owns Croagh Patrick and also leases the former Town Hall in Anson Street, applied for two grants from the State Government's Heritage Office for the establishment of the CMP and for the restoration work.
Mr McDougall said the CMP would be the most significant element in the restoration and maintenance of Croagh Patrick.
"The restoration of the building and the grounds will be an ongoing project with many stages," he said.
"The organisation has demonstrated a commitment to conserving Croagh Patrick and giving the community long term access and connection to the building.
"We recognise the significance of this and other historic buildings to the Orange community."
Mr McDougall said local tradespeople would be contracted to work on the restoration wherever possible.
"OCTEC makes a point of employing local tradespeople, they get a high degree of satisfaction from projects like this too," he said.
