A piece of Tewantin history on the move

Tait Duke Cottage, an important link to Tewantin's past, now has a new home and a secure future. Noosa Council has agreed to move the old cottage from its temporary home in Wallace Park to a permanent resting place on Council-owned land in Earl Street, Tewantin.

Along with a new location, the historic cottage will have a new role as a 'one stop shop' for local community support information.

It will be jointly occupied by United Synergies and the Rotary Club of Noosa Heads, allowing it to become an important part of the community as it was intended.

United Synergies will staff the cottage with volunteers providing information on local support services and how to access them, and the Rotary Club will use it as a base for meetings.

The cottage was built in the middle of Tewantin in 1919 for Charles Tait and Emma Duke.  Noosa Council was keen to find the house a permanent home that can benefit the community and be true to the wishes of Miss Esme Tait, who gifted her beloved home to the community ten years ago.

Noosa Council has agreed to allocate $80,000 from the Heritage Levy to carefully transport the cottage from Wallace Park where it's been gathering dust.

And the longer term future is looking brighter for Tait Duke Cottage.  United Synergies and Rotary aren't just bringing the cottage back to life; they have plans to raise funding from the wider Noosa community and local businesses to finish the long-awaited renovation of this piece of local history.

1 August 2014