Bridgetown’s Freemasons Hotel and Donnelly River Mill named as two Heritage Grants Program recipients

Several heritage sites within the South West region have been listed as recipients in the 2023-2024 Heritage Grants Program, including the Donnelly River Mill and Townsite Precinct and the Freemasons Hotel in Bridgetown. Four South West recipients were named as part of 12 regional projects to receive funding in the Heritage Grants Program for 2023-2024, which will fund conservation projects to either support economic and jobs boosts, reactivation of a heritage place, or provide for natural disaster reduction. The Freemasons Hotel in Bridgetown received $100,000 for heritage work including replacing the veranda and main roof. The Blackwood Inn in Mullalyup received $14,346 to prepare a Conservation Management Plan, which identifies the heritage significance of the building and provides clear policies for its sustainable future. Two South West historical sites were given Community Heritage Grants, with the Donnelly River Mill and Townsite Precinct being given $11,283 to install a digital interpretation station in the precinct, while the Boyup Brook Flax Mill was given $3,128 towards the development and installation of interpretative signage for visitors. Heritage Minister David Templeman said the grants were important to subsidise the cost of conservation work in the State and had potential to restore ageing and significant properties. “These grants are an important funding source for the owners of places on the State Heritage Register to help subsidise the cost of conservation works, commence project planning and support interesting ways to celebrate and share the unique history of those places,” he said. “From Northam to Fremantle, Maylands to Derby, each of these projects have the potential to restore ageing properties, tell stories from the past and encourage new generations of Western Australians to explore our State’s heritage. “The Cook Government is proud to support work to preserve our wonderful State’s heritage, to restore and maintain places that hold connections between our past, present and future.”