“The community support shown at the tree planting was overwhelming and demonstrates how important this site is to Cooroy,” explained Lower Mill Board Chairperson, Seb Vecchio. “This importance has also been formally recognised as the boiler and kiln at the Mill Site were recently listed in the Queensland Heritage Register. Once a place is entered in the Register, the Queensland Heritage Council must assess any changes to be made to the place. Overall, the Register protects significant cultural heritage places, so that they are conserved for future generations.”
The Mill Site isn’t only about protecting our past – it is also about our future. An exciting development that has just been announced is a joint project between QUT and Noosa District State High School (NDSHS). In term two of this year, Class 8B at NDSHS will focus a great deal of their studies around the Lower Mill Site. One of the projects students are already contemplating is assisting to develop interpretive signage for the site. A relationship has also been forged between the Noosa Library and NDSHS to undertake putting the stories of the site on new media. Students will be involved in video recording of locals who worked for many years on the mills site. A rich history lies in these stories and students will contemplate how best to present these to those who visit the site. And thanks to QUT these students will also use ‘Second Life’ and other internet platforms to extend their study of the Mill Site and of the new Hinterland Library by building the site in the virtual world.