THE new committee of the Port Macquarie Art Society (PMAS) is working with Council and its heritage advisors to develop and implement plans to restore the historic Hamilton Green.
Port Macquarie-born Maureen Cooke, who died in September aged 95, was instrumental in securing the site on Hastings River Drive as community land for local use.
“[Her death] was a great loss to all those who knew and loved Maureen for her devoted support and service to the Port Macquarie community over many decades,” said PMAS Vice President Julie Richardson.
The site includes the heritage listed Hibbard Schoolhouse (1893), which Maureen also attended as a child in the early 1900s.
In the 1970s, Maureen and her husband Eric donated and moved their “magnificent guesthouse” to Hamilton Green for community use.
The Manor House has served the community since then, formally becoming the PMAS in 1988.
Because Maureen and President Michael Marsh were the only ones formally involved in the PMAS committee at the time of her death, the group faced closure.
A new committee is now in place.
Ms Richardson said it also became apparent that there was no current approval for the weekly markets held on Hamilton Green and that the buildings licenced to the Art Society “were in some disrepair”.
“Unfortunately, that meant having to close the buildings to art classes and public access, and close the markets, which was a real blow to us.
“The committee apologises for the inconvenience this caused, but unfortunately for legal reasons it was unavoidable.”
The PMAS is now asking for the community’s patience, with work having already begun on returning the site to “revitalised community use”.
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