Miller’s Homestead in Boronia will be open to the public for arts, history and literature activities presented by Eastern Regional Libraries from Monday 7 March.
Eastern Regional Libraries are the new tenants of the homestead and will offer cultural activities and events under a 12-month pilot.
Knox City Council Mayor Susan Laukens said Council overturned a decision to rezone and sell the homestead in 2018 following community opposition.
“Council sought community feedback on potential uses for Miller’s Homestead, which found that people overwhelmingly supported retaining the much-loved building for community events, history and art space,” she said.
“The tenancy agreement with Eastern Regional Libraries will allow the site to be preserved while opening it up for public use. There is an option to extend this tenancy for a further four years.”
The tenancy pilot program aims to respond to the community preference for the historic homestead to become an arts and history centre.
Cultural Diversity Week will be celebrated with a cultural dance afternoon, Knox Interfaith Network’s faith speed dating, Lillie Giang’s Prosperity Toss cooking event and family bilingual storytime.
An Easter fun day will be held on Saturday 9 April featuring multiple storytimes, performances and craft activities with Easter-themed play for young children.
Future programming will include writing and literature events, children’s programs, community and cultural events, arts partnerships, heritage literature collections, genealogy services and gardening, a seed back and sustainability activities.
The single-storey Victorian residence on the corner of Melrose Court and Dorrigo Drive in Boronia —which was the home of James John Miller —is one of three historical homesteads owned by Knox City Council.
The building is an example of the Victorian style boom era of 1880s in Knox and it has been faithfully restored, with the garden being landscaped as closely as possible to its original design.
Miller’s Homestead is open to the public from 9.30am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm Monday to Friday from 7 March.
