Yass Valley’s Historical Archives Under Threat

The Yass & District Historical Society was recently given less than 19 days to vacate a room they have been using for archival storage purposes at the Yass Soldiers’ Memorial Hall for more than forty years. The room is needed by Yass Valley Council so that they can undertake repairs to the roof of the building.

Yass Valley Greens Councillor, Adrian Cameron, said, “I am appalled that Yass Valley Council is failing to step up to ensure two hundred years of local history is protected.

“I have heard excuses and watched much wringing of hands, but no commitment by Yass Valley Council to provide an alternative location and funding to ensure these valuable records held in Yass Archives are properly cared for,” Councillor Cameron said.

Knowing maintenance on the Hall may be happening, the Historical Society approached Council about alternate Council space. Instead, these spaces including rooms on the ground floor of the Hall were let commercially.

“Our Council talks a lot about community and caring for the community. Now is the time to step and do just that!” Councillor Cameron added. The Society met with representatives from the Yass Valley Council (the General Manager and Director, Corporate & Community) on Thursday 9th February to discuss the accommodation situation, possible options, and assistance that could be provided.

Council undertook to do two things immediately:

• discuss a possible re-staging of the building works (to work on the roof section over the archives at a later stage of the works), which could buy the Society a little more time to find alternative accommodation; and

• write a letter of support to the Member for Goulburn that could be used in any negotiations for alternative space.

Unfortunately, the Society found this meeting unhelpful. The alternative accommodation options suggested by Council were either impractical for working archives, have potential negative impact on other community groups in Council buildings, or put the onus on the Society to arrange and manage the details.

The Society has now sought legal advice about the situation.

• Topics:

• Local Council
• History
• Community Groups