Restoration Works - Waterproofing
When the RSL hall was being built in 1952, the Returned Services men form WW2, hand made the bricks on site. Years later it was discovered that the bricks had no sealing agent in them and as such are porous. During winter, once the ground is saturated and then following heavy rainfall, the ground in front of the West wall on the left side would leak through the wall into the basement area where equipment and the the Field of Crosses are stored. All the items we on pallets or timber frames to help to protect them.
In 2022, The RSL applied for a Capital Works grant through the Victorian Governments Veterans grants program. The grant was for the excavation and waterproofing of the west wall. Once this is done we would then be able to apply for a another Veterans Grant to concrete the basement floor, for an even and safe area for storage of our items.
Previous buildings on this site before the RSL took it over were located at road level. The current RSL Hall is 2 metres above road level.
This is evident when excavation works were under way and when getting down to road level on the corner of the building, a blue stone step was unearthed belonging to a previous building entrance. This is currently being researched by the Hepburn Shire Heritage Advisor.
This wall now has several layers of protection and during the heavy storms in late 2023 and early 2024, no water entered the basement.
These works included the following partners:
Victorian Government - Veterans Grants
GJ Hurn Earthmoving Sewage & Fencing P/L
Waterproofing Systems Pty Ltd
S.K. Purtell Electrical
Creswick Smeaton RSL members
Ballarat RSL
In 2022, The RSL applied for a Capital Works grant through the Victorian Governments Veterans grants program. The grant was for the excavation and waterproofing of the west wall. Once this is done we would then be able to apply for a another Veterans Grant to concrete the basement floor, for an even and safe area for storage of our items.
Previous buildings on this site before the RSL took it over were located at road level. The current RSL Hall is 2 metres above road level.
This is evident when excavation works were under way and when getting down to road level on the corner of the building, a blue stone step was unearthed belonging to a previous building entrance. This is currently being researched by the Hepburn Shire Heritage Advisor.
This wall now has several layers of protection and during the heavy storms in late 2023 and early 2024, no water entered the basement.
These works included the following partners:
Victorian Government - Veterans Grants
GJ Hurn Earthmoving Sewage & Fencing P/L
Waterproofing Systems Pty Ltd
S.K. Purtell Electrical
Creswick Smeaton RSL members
Ballarat RSL
Ministers Visit - 27th June 2023
The Minister for Veterans, the Hon Natalie Suleyman MP, and local member for Ripon Martha Haylett MP, visited the RSL to see the two Projects funded by her department. First, the completed waterproofing works which were funded from 2022 Victorian Government Veterans Grant. Second, they also viewed the area under the RSL Hall where new works will be carried out following successful 2023 Victorian Government Veterans Grant application.
With the waterproofing completed, the basement of the RSL Hall can now have a new concrete floor as well as a concrete driveway at the back of the hall to the basement.
The Minister for Veterans, the Hon Natalie Suleyman MP, and local member for Ripon Martha Haylett MP, visited the RSL to see the two Projects funded by her department. First, the completed waterproofing works which were funded from 2022 Victorian Government Veterans Grant. Second, they also viewed the area under the RSL Hall where new works will be carried out following successful 2023 Victorian Government Veterans Grant application.
With the waterproofing completed, the basement of the RSL Hall can now have a new concrete floor as well as a concrete driveway at the back of the hall to the basement.