Hickory House in Dorrigo has gained a major renovation and the work carried out by local contractors was celebrated at a community launch recently.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan attended the opening and said the work of the Hickory House and Neighbourhood Bus Committee deserved praise as the project had revitalised a community asset and provided work for local tradespeople.

“When I was here at Hickory House in March for a mobile office, the heritage building was definitely in need of a coat of paint,” he said.

“Now thanks to a $20,000 Stronger Communities Program grant from our Government and almost $35,000 from the committee and Bellingen Shire Council jointly, the 80-year-old building has a new lease on life.

“I thank the Hickory House committee for their efforts to renovate this building as it is used by so many different community groups. It truly is a community hub, making it the perfect beneficiary of our Stronger Communities Program.”

Hickory House and Neighbourhood Bus Management Committee Secretary Margaret Harley said she had spent half-a-day each week for the past 10 months project managing the renovation.

“I’m so pleased with the result of the renovation – the building has retained its heritage colours, but it has been modernised,” Ms Harley said.

“Our local builder Gilbert Young and painter Olga Szymiczek did a fantastic job.”

Mr Young said Hickory House’s framework was in good order when he started his renovation work, so he only needed to replace the building’s aged wall cladding with rendered blueboard and the guttering. Ms Szymiczek then spent the following five months painting the exterior of the house.

“I thank the Australian Government for their support and the Dorrigo Support Centre workers based at Hickory House who were so patient during the renovation,” Ms Harley said.

“There were a number of people who volunteered skill and time to ensure the project was a success and I thank them too.”

The Australian Government grant for Hickory House was delivered through Round 5 of the Stronger Communities Program. Community groups in the electorate of Cowper received grants totalling $150,000 from this round.