2015-03-31 Infrastructure and Services Committee Meeting Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               31 MARCH 2015


an offer was made by SCRC to the family that a room in the Cooroy Library be named the
Fenwick Room. SCRC had an established application process for place-naming requests,
however, this process was not followed with this request, resulting in delays in this matter being
resolved. The matter was then transferred to Noosa Council following de-amalgamation.

Previous Council Consideration

This matter came before the Infrastructure & Services Committee meeting on 17 June 2014 at
which time Council resolved not to name the room in the Cooroy Library after the Fenwick
family. Council’s decision reflected a desire to explore other ways of publicly recognising all the
original milling families at Mill Place. This decision was ratified at the Ordinary Meeting of
Council on 26 June 2014, as follows:

2.    NAMING REQUEST, ROOM AT COOROY LIBRARY
That Council note the report by the Business Support Officer to the Infrastructure & Services
Committee Meeting dated 17 June 2014 and defer consideration of this matter to allow staff to
investigate alternative recognition options for families with an historical connection to the Lower
Mill Site for consideration by Council.

The matter was referred back to the Community Services Department to explore other options for
place-naming and/or an installation to recognise families associated with the mill on the Lower
Mill site.

The Heritage Librarian was tasked to:

a)   Ascertain which peoples/families have a significant connection to the Lower Mill Site that
     would warrant recognition;

b)   Determine whether recognition has already been given for each family ie through a named
     asset; and

c)   Consider what recognition could be given within the library or Mill Place for all
     peoples/families such as by way of a permanent display or online content.

Findings of further research

1.   People & Families associated with Mill Site:
The mill on the Cooroy Lower Mill site had multiple owners:
       1908-1929      Fenwick Brothers & Morrish
       1929-1941      Blandford, Llewellyn, Smith & Carter
       1941-1988      Straker & Sons
       1988-2000      Alan Taylor & Co, Skase’s Quintex Group, Boral timbers
The Strakers have the longest association with the site. The Fenwicks were the first owners.

2.   Significance and Existing recognition of people and families associated with Mill Site:

Fenwick:       In addition to being the original owners of the mill, the Fenwick family have a long
               and deep connection to the Cooroy district – they were the builders of many
               Cooroy businesses and homes that stand today and were involved in civic
               activities. They continued to live and work in the Cooroy area for many years
               following the sale of the mill. Many family members are buried in the Cooroy and
               Tewantin cemeteries.
               EXISTING RECOGNITION: No place-naming or named asset.

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