Rutherglen & Corowa Unlocked hailed a success
Published on 29 August 2018
The inaugural Rutherglen & Corowa Unlocked event has been hailed a success, with hundreds of people flocking to participating sites across the region.
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for people to explore the rich history and beautiful architecture of venues that opened their doors and welcomed visitors for a guided tour.
Coordinated by Federation Council and Destination Rutherglen, the event was designed to showcase what the region has to offer and encourage visitation during what is normally a quiet time of year.
Tours booked out quickly across a number of sites as the new event gained momentum following the program launch in July.
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said he was thrilled with the level of interest the event received.
“There was a real buzz around the community and it’s the kind of event that will continue to grow and evolve into the future, which we are really excited about,” he said.
“We’ve received some great feedback that businesses and town centres experienced an increase in activity over the weekend, so we hope the event had the positive impact it was hoping to achieve.”
The weekend kicked off at The Convent Rutherglen where more than 130 people listened to a talk from heritage architects, Wendy Jacobs and Deborah Kemp before embarking on a tour of the iconic building. Throughout the weekend, a further 800 people explored the property at their own leisure.
Local residents, Brad and Robyn Moore were overwhelmed by the interest shown in their home and provided guided tours to more than 170 people over the course of the weekend. Built in 1898, Clendon House in Corowa has a rich history and many visitors had a past connection to the property and enjoyed sharing memories during the tours.
Lego workshops facilitated by local architects Phillip and Aaron from Regional Design Service were another popular activity on the event program, with the young and young at heart taking the opportunity to learn the basic principles of architecture and design to recreate local landmarks.
The Federation Museum and Rutherglen Historical Society hosted a number of guided walks and talks over the weekend, which were well attended by both locals and visitors to the area.
Federation Council and Destination Rutherglen have thanked the owners and operators who participated in the programme for their efforts and generosity in supporting the event.
“Without their willingness to be involved, the event would not have been possible and we look forward to continuing to work together to build on this successful event,” Mayor Bourke said.
