THE Old School building has been a Heywood icon – but what to do with it?

Opened in 1872, the building was used as state school 297 until 1978, before being converted to the town’s library as the Heywood Consolidated School took over all primary schooling.

In more recent years it has been used by various community groups including the Heywood Model Train Group, Fitzroy River Quilters and Country Women’s Association before being closed by Glenelg Shire Council during the early part of the coronavirus pandemic due to structural issues with the building, which is considered architecturally significant by the Heritage Council of Victoria.

Since then it has been in limbo – the quilters and CWA have found other venues for their meetings, and the model train layout – which members in 2020 said could not be moved to a proposed new site at the Pioneer Wagon Shed and Museum because it was too close to water – is believed to be inside in parts.

After the building was closed the lease agreement for it with Promoting Heywood ran out.

But many Heywood residents have told the Observer they would like to see the building reopened – if community groups would make use of it.

Among them is Elaine Evans, a Promoting Heywood member and who, at 83, still has fond memories of the school she first attended 77 years ago.

“It’s an icon, isn’t it,” she said.

“It’s sitting in the middle of the town and I think half the Heywood population would’ve gone to school here.”

Ms Evans has taken her battle to the authorities, having spoken to Glenelg Shire councillors and chief executive Paul Phelan, as well as State Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell.

“I said ‘if it needs fixing, fix it’,” Ms Evans said.

“They spend money on all sorts of other things.

“With the heritage surely they can get funding – it does come up every now and again for things which need funding.

“We need to have it saved – I appreciate the fact they’ve got a lot to attend to, but for God’s sake look after Heywood.”

Mr Phelan said the council had not made any decision about the fate of the building.

“It’s been in a state of repair that requires significant investment,” he said.

“We’re exploring avenues to make part of the building accessible for the model train group but at this point in time we have no further user agreements for the building.

“All user agreements were ceased while there was a dispute between groups that is now resolved.”