Maitland and District Historical Society has launched a plan of action to shame the council into buying the former Mercury building at 258 High Street.
In a bold move, the society has written to Maitland City Council and each councillor to pressure them to purchase the vacant building and open it as a museum.
The historical society’s members voted unanimously to push ahead with the idea, which would see the disused building take on a new purpose.
“The former Mercury building would form part of the municipal and historical precinct that Maitland City Council plans to establish at the eastern end of High Street,” society member Bob Roberts said.
“The idea surfaced last month when I moved a motion at a society meeting. Letters were sent to council and all councillors to make sure no one could say they did not receive one or it went astray.
“It is too soon for a reply, but that was stage one of the plan.”
Mr Roberts said stage two involved gaining public support through the pages of the Mercury.
“Maitland City Council has done nothing towards the history of Maitland. The last thing council did for Maitland was in 1955 when it built a levee around the town.
Full article by Rebecca Berry available at Maitland Mercury, Aug. 16, 2012.
