Old world community values for the modern era
Back in 2011, the City of Yarra Council had a derelict property on a corner block in a well sought after area. Formerly the site of the Burnley Neighbourhood House, Council planned to sell the block to developers. The community objected and council opened up the site to expressions of interest.
Four years later, the Burnley Backyard, a new concept for community living, as well as a victory for community values, will be officially opened on Sunday 21 June.
It has taken four years, but the partnership between the City of Yarra, Richmond Community Learning Centre and the Richmond Community Garden Group, with the support of the community has sustained the test of time, hiccups and delays to deliver a community lifestyle resource for all members of the community.
Backyard living will offer residents the opportunity to hire indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, complete with kitchen garden and barbecue area. There will even be backyard chooks! During the week, programs will once again be offered by the Richmond Community Learning Centre, and people with artistic tendencies will be able to explore their creativity in the arts studio. A community workshop will provide keep the handyman or woman occupied, whilst people with a green thumb will be able to rent a plot with the garden group. There’s something for everybody.
The Burnley Backyard Project is a partnership between the City of Yarra, Richmond Community Learning Centre and Richmond Community Group with support along the way from here studio, content studio and The Community Entrepreneur. The Richmond Community Learning Centre, formerly the Burnley Neighbourhood House, will continue to run its children’s services programs from its Lord Street premises and will also be co-managing the new Community Hub at the Lend Lease Development on the old GTV 9 site in Bendigo Street.
