More than 250 people streamed into the Manjimup Timber and Heritage Park on Friday night 20 April 2018 to witness the official opening of the Sandra Donovan Sound Shell and to observe the striking structure.
Officially opened by the Hon Adele Farina MLC, the sound shell is named in honour of local musician Sandra Donovan. Sandra devoted her short life to the musical needs of the local community before her death in 2011 at age 46.
Accompanied by the Hon. Terry Redman MLA, Shire President Paul Omodei, LotteryWest Grants Manager Nerreda Hillier, Chief Executive Officer Andrew Campbell, Director of Community Services Gail Ipsen Cutts, Project Manager Jessica Winters and Timber and Heritage Park Curator Ian Wilson, Ms Farina also officially opened the Community Volunteer Hub and the accessible walkways in the hamlet.
Shire President Paul Omodei is impressed with the way the Timber Park is taking shape "The Timber and Heritage Park is set become the new entrance statement to Manjimup and these facilities, along with the newly constructed agricultural shed, blacksmith shop and refurbishment of the State Timber Museum compliment an already unique park."
The volunteer hub is a restored old saw mill display and will be an integral space for maintenance of park assets and in particular for the restoration of the South West Energy Experience exhibits currently stored in shipping containers. The hub is designed to deliver long term regional training and development opportunities relating to heritage object / artefact conservation and preservation.
The fully accessible pathway in the historic hamlet is a 55 metre accessible pathway linking the six buildings that form the eastern arc of the hamlet as well as two additional access ramps, creating access to a total of eight historic buildings.
Funded by Royalties for Regions, LotteryWest and the Shire of Manjimup, all three projects are part of component two of the Town Centre Revitalisation Project aimed at transforming the Manjimup Timber and Heritage Park into a unique multipurpose attraction.