DRAFT plans to brand the entrance to Inglewood’s historic Brooke Street have unleashed a wave of support to retain the town’s Blue Eucy branding.
Hundreds of people have left comments online and responded to an exclusive Loddon Herald poll since new plans designed by Djaara’s DJANDAK were released by Loddon Shire.
Several Brooke Street shops started displaying gum leaves and tree branches in their windows at the weekend.
DJANDAK plans have a Brooke Street sign featuring the Mallee fowl, indigenous murals and a featured paving creating a blurred serpentine form referencing the great serpent and Djaara’s healing smoke.
“In Djaara stories, Kooyoora is known to be one of the homes of the great serpent who is the enforcer of cultural law. There are also important stories about the Mallee Fowl. While the Mallee Fowl are not currently known in the landscape, we hope that by healing country they will return,” council says.
The latest concept plans, now open for public comment, build on the Inglewood Development and Tourism Committee commissioned streetscape masterplan completed in 2022 that council says captures the Inglewood community’s aspirations for their town and has been the foundation of this stage of the project.
“The DJANDAK design team have worked with the 2022 streetscape masterplan as a project foundation and interwoven cultural stories into the streetscape,” council said.
“This design draft will be used to present the concept to community and stakeholders and support funding applications for next stages of design and construction. A significant funding application to the Australian Government Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program will be lodged by the Loddon Shire Council project team.
“Project objectives include greening and cooling through plantings of grass, plants, shade trees and vines, paving and surface variation to accentuate heritage buildings, a public art trail and incorporation of existing heritage trail increased accessibility for pedestrians and vehicles, to support retail businesses (and) defined town entrance and signage.”
The existing mural on the old Porter’s building at the corner of Brooke and Verdon Streets is listed for upgrading “with Djaara artwork feature indicating the Gateway to Kooyoora”.
Development of the old co-op service station corner includes a feature rock sculpture embedded in mound capturing Kooyoora traditional language meaning Mountain of Light.
The corner park would also have an interpretive display area with curated Inglewood history covering indigenous history, the gold rush, eucalyptus oil and more recent Inglewood information plans also propose garden beds along Brooke Street and trellis posts and wires in front of existing verandah posts for vines.
Council has concept designs on display at its Wedderburn office and online.