Ms Midlam, of Eden, wrote to eight major supermarket chains inquiring whether they had plans to move into the proposed new supermarket but to her surprise, all ruled it out.

She has now forwarded the supermarkets' responses to Bega Valley Shire Council general manager Leanne Barnes and group manager for planning and environment Andrew Woodley, as well as a number of councilors, asking if there is a risk that Eden will lose one of its most historic buildings and be left with a building site.

No replies have been received so far, Ms Midlam told the Magnet on Tuesday. 

Ms Midlam sent emails to Coles, Woolworths, Foodworks, Metcash (IGA), Aldi, Supabarn, SPAR and Friendly Grocer between March 5 and March 13.

Woolworths pointed Ms Midlam in the direction of IGA.

"I can confirm that Woolworths has no plans to build a supermarket in Eden, and I have been informed that the supermarket being built in Eden will be a Supa IGA," Woolworths representative Rachel Keogh replied.

It has been speculated that IGA would move from its current premises on the opposite side of Imlay Street into the new building on the Hotel Australasia site.

Ms Midlam approached Metcash regarding the speculation and that Mr Thompson used a Super IGA logo on the artwork for the DA application to Council. 

Metcash Limited group general manager corporate affairs responded, “The developer had no right to use our logo to demonstrate what the building could look like, I understand this was conveyed to him when it was brought to our attention over 12 months ago. I suggest this is not an issue for Metcash but for the developer.” 

Back in December 2013, Metcash stated they were not opening a business on the Hotel Australasia site and said the developer had used their logo without permission. 

The Magnet attempted to contact Hotel Australasia owner Rodney Thompson this week for comment but he did not return the paper's calls.

Mr Thompson was quoted in the March 5 edition of the Eden Magnet as saying that the proposed new supermarket would bring jobs and healthy competition to Eden.

"Our national retailer has looked into it and they've done their research," Mr Thompson told the Magnet when asked about the viability of a third supermarket.

"The other supermarket (IGA, opposite) is a dilapidated building and could never compete properly with Coles," he said. 

At the time, Mr Thompson declined to name the supermarket chain but said there had been a lot of interest.

"We're keeping it close to our chests for now," Mr Thompson said. 

What does 'heritage' mean? 

Information and photos supplied by Angela George, local historian and Australasia campaigner. 

The situation with the Hotel Australasia is symptomatic of the incomplete investigation of heritage within the southern part of the Bega Valley Shire, and sadly, this is not unique. 

Based in local government data, it has been estimated that, if current trends continue, we will lose up to 15 per cent of existing historic heritage stock by 2024. 

By definition, these places are important for their associations with the past and, as such, once they're lost, they cannot be retrieved or replaced.

The question is often asked "just what does 'heritage' mean?" 

Put simply, it refers to that diverse array of places, sites and objects that we have inherited from the past and want to pass on to the future. 

More than that though, it is a working, functional illustration of the many chapters in the story of our town. 

It links us with our past, marks our achievements and offers a vision for our future. 

Underrepresentation of heritage sites in the southern part of the Shire is very evident. 

Acknowledging that parochialism has long been an issue throughout the region, the disparity of council attention given to heritage identification, research and protection in the northern and southern areas of the Shire do little to challenge this perception.

Figures from the 2012 Bega Valley Shire Council Local Environment Plan provide an illustration of this:

And as the Hotel Australasia has also illustrated, it is often only when our heritage is threatened or lost that we sit up and take notice of just how irreplaceable it is. Here in Eden, we have lost many highly important examples of our built heritage - just two of the more outstanding ones were the 1848 Customs House, demolished to make way for bulk fuel tanks; and the 1862 Pilot Station, demolished in about the 1960s to make way for a more modern counterpart.

Of the sites in Eden that are currently listed for their heritage value, the vast majority are located on major roads, visible from the street, and aesthetically "heritage" in appearance. 

This would tend to indicate little more than a superficial "drive by" assessment rather than in-depth research, investigation and community consultation. 

The Hotel Australasia is just one example of the properties that have fallen victim to this cursory survey - and despite the history of the building being highlighted by the historic plaque that had been fixed to the front of the property, no further consideration was given to what is perhaps the most important extant example of Eden's role in Australia's Federation.

According to another Eden resident and Australasia campaigner Peter Whiter, "heritage items don't hold a lot of weight round here".

Mr Whiter said he doesn't want Eden to end up like Batemans Bay or Merimbula where you walk down the street and ask yourself 'when was this town formed?' and assume it was built in the 70s.

"You'd think it came up in the 70s because that's how old the oldest thing would be."

"When in actual fact those towns have got a lot of history," he said.

Mr Whiter said that Eden does need a new building  for a supermarket because the other one has had it, but questions why we should lose a sound building to build a new one that might end up empty. 

Not 'yet' heritage.  Information supplied by Angela George 

To illustrate the breadth in age, style and type, these include:

Bega Valley Shire Council's response to assessment of heritage listings 

The Australasia building was not assessed as part of the 2006 heritage study because its appearance from the street was of a building that had been extensively compromised by 1960s modifications and there was no recommendation from the community to pursue further study or assessment.

The assessment of the heritage significance of the Hotel Australasia in May 2013 by Council’s heritage advisor included an internal inspection. 

Places are assessed against a set of criteria to determine the nature and extent of their heritage significance. 

For example, in May 2013 Council’s heritage advisor assessed the heritage significance of the Hotel Australasia against the NSW heritage criteria.

Local heritage places contribute significantly to individuality and streetscape, townscape, landscape or natural character and reflect the socio-economic and natural history of a local government area. 

Places can also be assessed as being regionally or state significant.

Following an assessment of a place's heritage significance, Council can resolve to include places on the heritage schedule within its Local Environmental Plan.

In 2006 Council commissioned a heritage study to identify heritage places that had not previously been identified and that are of sufficient significance to warrant listing on Council's heritage schedule. 

The study concentrated on Bermagui, Merimbula, Pambula and Eden. 

The consultant (Council’s Heritage Advisor) worked with community members to identify places of possible significance, including on-site inspections and the provision of factual information.

The study recommended an additional 18 places in Eden, 17 places in Pambula, 6 in South Pambula, 7 places in Merimbula and 1 at Wyndham for inclusion on Council’s heritage schedule.

Not all of the places that were put forward by the communities for consideration were recommended for listing as they were assessed as below threshold at the time, or there was insufficient information to substantiate significance.

In addition, Council considers the heritage significance and potential listing of places nominated by the community on an on-going basis.

If you've got something to say regarding the future of heritage buildings in the Eden please 

-Bega Valley Shire Council spokesperson

Cultural Icon Looking Down The Barrel. Words by Fraser Buchanan ex BVSC Councillor and Eden High School student

Eden is transitioning from predominantly being a fishing, whaling and timber town to becoming a tourism destination that not only offers a beautiful coastal setting but most importantly offers a unique historic cultural heritage as its tourism lure. 

This cultural heritage is made up of the Aboriginal history, the whaling, the fishing and timber industries that have made Eden Eden. 

Eden has a history like no other town and this is the valuable point of difference it has compared to other dime a dozen coast towns. 

It is important that as much of this history is preserved to be able to hold and secure this cultural uniqueness for the future of tourism. 

An integral part of this heritage is the Australasia Hotel building that is 110 years old, built at a time when Eden was being mooted as a potential capital port.

It was built to support seafarers moving between Sydney and Melbourne. 

This hotel has so much nautical, fishing, whaling and timber cutting history it is unprecedented. 

In the 1950’s it was considered by its then owner too old world looking and needed to be modernised, so the beautiful old wrought iron balustrading and open veranda  and original facade was boxed over and covered with a typical boxy 1950 look that has remained to this day. 

It was sold a couple of years ago to the current owner as a non operating hotel. 

It was discovered after the purchase that the original facade was still intact behind the modern one. 

The owner put a Development Application in to Council proposing to demolish the building and build a new supermarket on the site.

Council was lobbied by a group of concerned citizens and told of the historic value and the fact the original facade was still there and quite restorable. 

Unfortunately the building had not been heritage listed because until then little was known about the original facade. 

The Council to its credit did reject the proposal to demolish and suggested a desire to see the facade restored as part of any development, the Council also offered to consider waivering any carparking contribution that would be required to be paid by the developer. 

The developer challenged Councils decision to reject his proposal and Council after seeking some advice felt they were up against it because the building was not heritage listed, so they chose to approve the demolition of the building subject to some special conditions to protect certain heritage valued items.

The developer being aware of community angst towards the loss of the iconic building made an offer to the community group who were working very hard to save the building, for them or anyone to purchase the front 15 metres of the building which is the original heritage valued portion, he gave the community group a period of 2 weeks to come up with the money $500k to buy it. 

This proved to be impossible for the group to come up with in such a short time. 

The group approached the Council to fund it using the carparking contribution money, being approx $480k, that would have nearly covered it but the Council said they were not able do it within the short time frame being offered. 

The developer said he needed to move on, he couldn’t wait, he needed certainty, he wanted various conditions to be applied if council were willing to do it. 

Regrettably the will or real desire was not there to do it on behalf of the developer and the Council, all too hard unfortunately.

After all the short time frames and the rushing around frantically trying to get a positive outcome the community group are still hopeful that even now, nearly a year later, that the developer will have second thoughts and work together with the community, the Council and the State Government to save and restore the front 15 metre portion of this wonderful icon, which could be restored and renovated for eg retail businesses and the upstairs could be used for guest house accommodation.

To lose this Icon for another supermarket will be a real detriment to Eden’s historic culture and unique tourism appeal, it will be only a myth.

- Fraser Buchanan ex BVSC Councillor and Eden High School student

Rusho rusho... A call to answer 

Eden’s Future… Is its History 

Words and artwork by Eden resident and Australasia campaigner Brett Ralph

Scattered throughout Historical Eden are many testaments to the preservation of it’s rich and unique history. 

A remarkable history. 

Nowhere else in the world have eight tonne killer whales worked with Baywhalers in rowboats, with only hand harpoon and lance, mostly at night, in Winter, to hunt 50 tonnes of angry whale, and much more of its history is just as uncommon and is Eden’s alone.

Its people are justifiably proud of it.

With the prospect of many regular visitors arriving by sea in the not too distant future, in cruise ships, the “third naturally deepest harbour in the world” is abuzz.

We certainly have a beautiful harbour for them to visit. 

Spectacular even, sometimes, but beautiful panorama’s “like” Twofold Bay, here in Australia, are “everywhere”, especially if you come from overseas.

It’s Eden’s History, particularly it’s nautical history, and it’s architectural icons, that our visiting tourists find the most fascinating and intriguing and their preservation and maintenance should be paramount.

For the most part it has, and is.

Despite our town’s economic hardship and isolation quite a few of our locals for many years now, have invested their own blood, sweat and tears into the restoration and even the commercialization, of most of our historical architectural icons; Seahorse Inn, The Killer Whale Museum, The Crown And Anchor, The Great Southern Inn and Imlay House just to name a few.

Quite a few of these and others were in disrepair, Seahorse Inn, severely damaged.

All success stories.

Surely then, the developer involved with a demolition of our Historical Australasia Hotel, is unaware.

Unaware he’s been misinformed.

The asset he and Eden could have to time indefinite, in keeping the original building and allowing some of Eden’s talented “restorators” and artisans, to be given the chance to renovate her into shades of her previous splendour, shouldn’t be so quickly discounted or it’s expense so over estimated. 

Government grants are available for this and we’re one hell of a talented lot.

Especially with the original hotel front, in mint condition still, hidden behind the present top facade.

It’s priceless.

Incorporating a cultural/arts centre with a business or two, what a sight she could once again be!

Her two verandahs are gold. 

In fact nothing could replace her.

Many here, see her in fifty years, some even now, (being the Port of Eden’s main waterhold for nearly a century), as just as historically important as Boyd’s Tower.

From Australia’s Federation through to our tuna fishing “boomtimes” etc.

That’s a lot of local modern history.

Many Eden folk are insulted and incensed, shocked and angry, over the thought of the Australasia disappearing from Eden’s streetscape.

Especially to an unneeded supermarket.

Let commonsense fly back into the window and stop this talk of demolition and let’s start talking restoration. 

Our History is our future.

Give some of us half a chance to blind you with brilliance.

Let her neglected walls become pictorial testimony to their remarkable history and quadruple her value.

Then let the cruise ships come.

Blind Freddy could see her viability.

-Brett Ralph