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Written by Marc Pallisco
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Monday, 24 May 2010 01:17 |
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THE compound known for years as the Ovens Benevolent Asylum, in Beechworth, has hit the market as a development site.
The State Government can expect to make up to about $2 million from the sale of the 6.5 hectare property which includes five heritage protected historic buildings, and a subdivided vacant tract of land.
Construction of the first asylum building started in 1862 with buildings added in 1867, according to the Heritage Council of Victoria.
The asylum complex has been known as the Ovens Benevolent Home, and Ovens and Murray Home and Beechworth Hospital.
Near the town centre, the complex was built and expanded to accommodate the families of those affected by miners that had been injured at the workplace.
Other similar facilities existed in Bendigo and Castlemaine.
LJ Hooker’s Dean Lupson is marketing the development, which he expects will arouse interest from developers who may propose an aged care facility, boutique tourist accommodation complex or art museum.
Alternatively, Mr Lupson said, an education facility might be interesting in the site. La Trobe University operates from a former mental asylum in Beechworth, he said.
Elsewhere in the area, the former Beechworth Jail is being redeveloped into a major tourist attraction after being sold about five years ago.
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