Perth Voice Interactive

THE Mount Lawley Society has been short-listed for a gong in the WA heritage awards.

It is a finalist in the “outstanding contribution to heritage by a community-based organisation” category.

The MLS has been busy in the past two years, successfully campaigning to preserve the old façade on the burnt-down Mount Lawley primary school and staging an Astor Theatre rally to keep Mt Lawley in Stirling after council mergers.

“One of our big achievements has been getting demolition-by-neglect legislation through Stirling city council.”

MLS president Bruce Wooldridge says the society—formed in 1977—has its largest membership to date: “We now have around 360 members, which is pretty impressive,” he says. “I think having stalls at the Beaufort Street festival and doing more public exhibitions has helped to raise our profile.

“One of our big achievements has been getting demolition-by-neglect legislation through Stirling city council.”

Mr Wooldridge adds the society is creating a digital archive of photos and information of more than 1000 heritage buildings in Perth: “We have nearly finished sifting through all the stuff and will now decide on the best way to archive it in a digital format.”

Heritage Perth executive director Richard Offen has also been nominated in the category for heritage professionals.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK