Bayside City Council proposes to move our Sandringham and District Historical Society at the end of October this year - to a Council-Owned building elsewhere, that actual location seemingly of secondary importance. 

WE ASK THAT BAYSIDE COUNCIL KEEP THE SANDRINGHAM AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY AT HISTORIC 15 MELROSE STREET, SANDRINGHAM. 

With Melrose Street at a critical crossroad in time, please read the following justifications and if you agree, please sign and share this petition.

DISCUSSION POINTS IN SUPPORT OF OUR ABOVE REQUEST... 

1. The Hobson Stores (next door) have advised that their lease also ends at the end of October this year, with the loss of both Hobson's and our Historical Society leaving a hole in the heart of Melrose Street and Sandringham Village, thereby harming the commercial viability of existing Traders and the Melrose Street amenity. While Bayside Council has no say in the threat to demolish and/or convert Hobson's into a "retail development", Bayside IS responsible for any SDHS move. 
2. The keeping of the current location is supported by the Sandringham Traders Association and Sandy Street Art Project.
3. The current location is in the heart of a Bayside-designated Activity Centre.
4. The current building is of special historic significance, a picturesque shop recalling the Federation Arts and Crafts movement, with art nouveau lead lights, formal stuccoed frieze, and Tudoresque half timbering to the overhanging gable end and finial at the apex.
5. The current location is in Melrose Street, one of Bayside's iconic historic precincts on a direct path from Sandringham Station to our historic rotunda and bay.
6. The current location has direct and easy access to public transport, both rail and bus. 
7. Our Historical Society and volunteers have already been subject to 6-moves in the last 5-years, with Bayside claiming: "Protecting and celebrating heritage is a vital function of Council".
8. The careless treatment of volunteers lets down the community and leads to the likely loss of volunteers - whereas Bayside claims "We understand and value the important role volunteers play in building a happy and healthy community" and "We want to support and encourage our current volunteers and find new ways to attract a diverse range of people and help them to stay involved." 
9. Both records and administration are currently located at the same Melrose Street location.
10. Moving and relocating our Historical Society involves significant cost and effort, with a collection of over 13,000 documents and images. 
11. Melrose Street has 2-art spaces thanks to private financial commitment and endeavor, both these windows illuminated at night as is that of our Historical Society - thereby collectively activating an historic but otherwise dark streetscape and encouraging pedestrians, now of even greater importance with the threatened end of The Hobson Stores.

DISCUSSION POINTS AGAINST OUR ABOVE REQUEST... 

1. Bayside does not own the current SDHS building, necessitating the payment of rent or purchasing same.