ONE of Bathurst’s iconic buildings needs some tender loving care.
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The roof at the heritage-listed Machattie Park fernery needs fixing and council has started the search to find someone with the right skills.
The fernery, which dates back to the 1890s, was included in the original design of Machattie Park and is considered one of the park’s oustanding attractions.
Mark Kimbel from Bathurst Regional Council said the latest work is part of an ongoing maintenance program carried out whenever funds become available.
“Repairs to the roof were highlighted as being needed when the work to replace structural beams was carried out there a couple of years ago,” he said.
“Continuing on from that project, the roof area over the marble statue wing section of the fernery bounded by the protective fence needs replacing because there are concerns it is failing, while parts are also missing.
“That roof area is a glass structure and, as has been done in the past, it will be replaced with a stronger and much safer perspex material.”
Mr Kimbel said regular maintenance is needed on the fernery because there is so much moisture inside.
“It’s vital an iconic building like this is kept in good shape. Each year, as the funds become available, we look to see what needs doing,” he said.
“Eventually the lattice work there will need to be replaced, as will the timber sills as they rot out.”
The work on the fernery roof follows another major repair operation on the building in mid- 2011.
Some of its structural timbers had been deemed unsafe due to rot, so remedial works were carried out.
“There’s a large amount of dry rot in any number of the exposed beams,” Peter Navin from council said at the time.
“Two main posts at the front of the building have been replaced and further works to the other critical timber beams are also being undertaken.
“As the works have progressed it has been found that more and more works need to be carried out.
“It’s a time-consuming process because this is a heritage-listed building and the contractors have to retain the original design and style.”
Council records show the fernery, rotunda, caretaker’s cottage and fountain were all part of the park’s overall design.