B-day: Roxanne Smith, operations manager for Bass Coast Cultural Venues, Anne Davie, Mayor Michael Whelan and Hannah Eisen, the council’s senior project manager at the opening of Berninneit
By Catherine Watson
IN JULY 1992, as a councillor for the Shire of Phillip Island, Anne Davie moved that the council explore the opportunity for a community and arts centre on this site. When her fellow councillors narrowly supported her motion, she remembers jumping up and shouting “Hallelujah!”
The jubilation was premature. There were to be five designs, two different councils, many council terms, 31 years, $31 million and countless disappointments before Phillip Island got its cultural centre.
For Anne, the toughest time was when the incoming council cancelled the project after the 2016 election. “But then they revisited it and redesigned it, and the outcome is probably even better.
IN JULY 1992, as a councillor for the Shire of Phillip Island, Anne Davie moved that the council explore the opportunity for a community and arts centre on this site. When her fellow councillors narrowly supported her motion, she remembers jumping up and shouting “Hallelujah!”
The jubilation was premature. There were to be five designs, two different councils, many council terms, 31 years, $31 million and countless disappointments before Phillip Island got its cultural centre.
For Anne, the toughest time was when the incoming council cancelled the project after the 2016 election. “But then they revisited it and redesigned it, and the outcome is probably even better.
“An ambitious arts project such as this is often met with strong opposition. One can just hold onto the belief and the vision and, with the support of others, be patient till the finishing line.”
The earlier incarnation of the cultural centre was to have retained part of the old building. In the end the building was demolished but some of the old trees were retained and the new centre has been built around them.
One of the last acts of the previous Bass Coast Shire Council was to approve the demolition of the old Cowes Cultural Centre before the 2020 election so the incoming council couldn’t go back on the plans.
Former Bass Coast mayor Pam Rothfield, whose council gave the final approval, was delighted with the result. “It’s not glitzy. It’s understated. It’s very Melbourne. It’s classy. It’s cool.”
The opening was also a proud day for the team from McCorkell Constructions that built Berninneit, seeing what had been their construction site for the past three years with fresh and appreciative eyes.
The earlier incarnation of the cultural centre was to have retained part of the old building. In the end the building was demolished but some of the old trees were retained and the new centre has been built around them.
One of the last acts of the previous Bass Coast Shire Council was to approve the demolition of the old Cowes Cultural Centre before the 2020 election so the incoming council couldn’t go back on the plans.
Former Bass Coast mayor Pam Rothfield, whose council gave the final approval, was delighted with the result. “It’s not glitzy. It’s understated. It’s very Melbourne. It’s classy. It’s cool.”
The opening was also a proud day for the team from McCorkell Constructions that built Berninneit, seeing what had been their construction site for the past three years with fresh and appreciative eyes.
The McCorkell team that built Berninneit: Dale Lyon (director), Ross McDonald (project manager), Brent Maloney and Adrian Bill (site managers) and Dean Robbins (director)
The new centre incorporates Passivhaus design, meaning it was more expensive and complex to build but the ongoing utility costs will be much lower and there will be low carbon emissions.
Dale said it was a technically challenging project but rewarding to see it take shape and immensely satisfying to see it embraced so warmly by the community.
The last couple of weeks in particular were stressful as the deadline for the opening loomed. Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan joked that he half expected to be called in to finish off the tiling.
The stress was all too real for the council’s senior project manager, Hannah Eisen.
An architect and interior designer by training, this was her first major project and it couldn’t have been bigger. She and Roxanne Smith, the council’s new operations manager for cultural venues, were unpacking furniture the day before the opening. Sound and lighting checks went down to the wire.
“I had so much anxiety about getting from a construction site to a safe public space.”
As a local (she is president of the Phillip Island Board Riders Club), the opening was a particularly emotional occasion for her. After a sleepless night, she relaxed in typical Phillip Island fashion – taking part in a surfing competition in the morning before heading to the opening of Berninneit, Bass Coast Shire Council’s biggest ever project.
After her three-decade long wait, what does Anne Davie think of the new centre?
“I love it as you walk into the great hall and you can see outside to the trees. It softens it.
“For me the icing on the cake is that it’s called Berninneit, the gathering place. This always has been a gathering place. It always will be a gathering place.”
Anne says Berninneit is not just for Phillip Island. “Everyone in Bass Coast Shire should be very proud of this, and all of South Gippsland. It’s for all of us.
“I like the saying: design a building and it will shape who you are. I know Berninneit will soon become a source of great community pride. It is a place for everyone.”
For upcoming events at Berninneit, visit Bass Coast Cultural Venues.
Dale said it was a technically challenging project but rewarding to see it take shape and immensely satisfying to see it embraced so warmly by the community.
The last couple of weeks in particular were stressful as the deadline for the opening loomed. Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan joked that he half expected to be called in to finish off the tiling.
The stress was all too real for the council’s senior project manager, Hannah Eisen.
An architect and interior designer by training, this was her first major project and it couldn’t have been bigger. She and Roxanne Smith, the council’s new operations manager for cultural venues, were unpacking furniture the day before the opening. Sound and lighting checks went down to the wire.
“I had so much anxiety about getting from a construction site to a safe public space.”
As a local (she is president of the Phillip Island Board Riders Club), the opening was a particularly emotional occasion for her. After a sleepless night, she relaxed in typical Phillip Island fashion – taking part in a surfing competition in the morning before heading to the opening of Berninneit, Bass Coast Shire Council’s biggest ever project.
After her three-decade long wait, what does Anne Davie think of the new centre?
“I love it as you walk into the great hall and you can see outside to the trees. It softens it.
“For me the icing on the cake is that it’s called Berninneit, the gathering place. This always has been a gathering place. It always will be a gathering place.”
Anne says Berninneit is not just for Phillip Island. “Everyone in Bass Coast Shire should be very proud of this, and all of South Gippsland. It’s for all of us.
“I like the saying: design a building and it will shape who you are. I know Berninneit will soon become a source of great community pride. It is a place for everyone.”
For upcoming events at Berninneit, visit Bass Coast Cultural Venues.