Brimbank’s Keilor Police Hut, a heritage structure of state significance, has won a prestigious award at the Australian Institute of Architects Victorian Awards 2022 for its conservation and relocation project.
Imported into Australia during the Gold Rush, this corrugated iron-clad heritage building is one of the very few surviving examples of a 1850s pre-fabricated building in Victoria.
“This hut is a slice of colonial history that was established in 1853 to house the Keilor Police on the road to the Victorian goldfields,” Brimbank Mayor Cr Jasmine Nguyen said.
This award-winning project saw the reconstruction and restoration of the portable structure from its previous site on the Calder Highway, Keilor North, to the Harrick’s Cottage site in Keilor Park.
The jury tasked with assessing the award entries described the project as an exemplar of conservation work.
“What a brilliant team effort by everyone involved to preserve this state treasure and to give the next generation a true appreciation of Brimbank’s architectural history,” Cr Nguyen said.
The project was co-funded with budget provided by Brimbank Council, supplemented by $200,000 from the Victorian Government’s Living Heritage Grants program.
Brimbank Council led the project, with support from the Keilor Historical Society. A consultant team were also engaged to assist at different stages throughout the project.
Andronas Conservation Architecture, principal architects tasked with overseeing the conservation played a key role in the delivery. They nominated the project, and won the Architecture Award for Heritage – Conservation.
