Preserving heritage railway cottages - WA

Community members working on one of the cottages.

Menzies Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) is a not-for-profit organisation providing housing to Indigenous people in the Menzies townsite, Western Australia. 

MAC has an incredible opportunity to build a thriving tourism business that can provide economic and social benefits to its community. 

Community First Development has worked with MAC over the past several years to develop a business case to secure funding for restoring their heritage railway cottages. Without this work, these precious historic buildings will continue to deteriorate. Securing funding is the major issue – one of the cottages is already beyond repair. 

MAC recently invited us to work with them again because this business case now needs to be updated to include tourism initiatives – such as tour activities and transforming one of the cottages into a museum. 

Ultimately, MAC aspires to preserve its buildings for future generations, to provide employment opportunities for its members, and to become a sustainable corporation with a regular source of income. 

It’s been great to work alongside MAC to develop their tour product and help strengthen their business case to fund the restoration of their cottages. They are specifically looking to upgrade three 1890s heritage platemakers cottages as well as the station masters house to use them as short-term accommodation for tourists and for temporary contractors working in the town. 

The demand for accommodation in Menzies is growing as travelers seek to stay overnight rather than just driving through the town. 

We look forward to keeping you updated on this project! 

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