Ian Gillings, owner of the Grand Western Lodge at Millthorpe, has been locked in a legal stoush. Now, he’s locked in a battle with Blayney Shire Council over the right to renovate the footpath outside his historic property. Gillings took ownership of the lodge just as the COVID-19 pandemic started. For the last two years, he has given his all to lovingly restore the 1901 vintage historic building down to the last detail. This ongoing dispute speaks to the fundamental conflict between heritage conservation and practical modern infrastructure needs in a township founded in the 1860s.
Formerly known as the “house of horrors” due to its dark history of psychiatric patients, the Grand Western Lodge has been completely renovated. Today, it is the inviting home base for miners. The pedestrian path in front of the lodge, installed about 70 years ago, was long overdue for an upgrade and replacement. The council’s plan to fix the footpath with asphalt as part of its broader Millthorpe Village Masterplan has met with Gillings’ strong opposition.
Dispute Over Footpath Materials
Gillings provides detailed reasons why the heritage value of the Grand Western Lodge is better served by a different solution than the proposed asphalt one. He is advocating for bluestone pavers. He feels this decision will do more to protect the historic structure from future water damage.
“It’s the right thing, I’ve spent all of this money on going 100 percent heritage reparations and this part stands out as being totally inappropriate,” Ian Gillings stated.
Even when Gillings volunteered to do the repairs to the footpath personally, Blayney Shire Council still refused Gillings’ offer. The council continues to defend its decision on the grounds of risk management and liability.
Here’s what Mark Dicker, a representative from Blayney Shire Council, had to say.
“It doesn’t work like that from our risk perspective nor our insurance and liability,” Dicker remarked.
He further added, “We need to have a fit-for-purpose product not a Rolls Royce product, particularly when heritage advice doesn’t agree with it.”
Legal Proceedings
In April, Gillings launched a legal challenge against the council in the NSW Land and Environment Court. He has now threatened further legal action if the council continues with plans to repair the footpath with asphalt. The ongoing legal battle has already cost Gillings $30,000 in legal fees and has burdened ratepayers with additional costs running into tens of thousands of dollars.
“This has quite frankly wasted over $30,000 of money plus numerous hours of staff time,” Dicker noted regarding the council’s expenditure related to the dispute.
Gillings is undeterred, pledging to fight on.
“I’ll take it to its bitter end,” he asserted.
He blasted the policy, describing the whole mess as “the most ridiculous thing in the world.”
Impact on Millthorpe Community
The dispute over the footpath upgrade has wider significance for Millthorpe’s heritage protection campaign. As a heritage conservation area, the township struggles to incorporate improvements in infrastructure while maintaining the integrity of its historical appeal. The Grand Western Lodge represents this fight. Its history and recent restorations consistently look to bring back that original beauty.
The lawsuit has attracted national attention not just for its monetary costs, but for damage it has done to community relations. Stakeholders are watching the new rollout very closely. This is particularly the case after a recent class action for an injured shared path user resulted in more than $4 million awarded to over 50 successful claimants. The similarities between this case and Gillings’ case highlight continued issues with infrastructure maintenance and living history in Millthorpe.
Both sides appear to be preparing for a contentious and drawn out court fight. It remains to be seen what this dispute will mean for development plans in Millthorpe moving forward, and we’re hopeful that they’re able to come to a compromise between heritage conservation and the real-world needs of their community.
