AFTER losing its home in a fire last year, the Frankston Lapidary Club has not been welcomed back to McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park.
The Lapidary Club had been based out of the McClelland Gallery grounds in Langwarrin since 1982. In November last year, the clubroom burned to the ground in an accidental fire.
Nine months on from the devastating blaze, the club remains homeless. Earlier this year, McClelland Gallery advised the Lapidary Club members that it would not rebuild the clubroom.
Club member Michael Walsh said that the 56-year-old group “faces demise” because of the decision.
“It has come to the club’s notice that McClelland Gallery is possibly not going to rebuild or let the club rebuild the clubrooms,” he said. “Club members would be extremely upset with this outcome.”
“Frankston Council has been trying to find us temporary clubrooms until we can get established again but this is proving frustrating and difficult. The club has been applying for various grants and have set up a go fund me page with some small success.”
The Lapidary Club made rent payments to McClelland Gallery while it were based there. The club says that the building was covered by McClelland Gallery’s insurance.
McClelland Gallery director Lisa Byrne justified not rebuilding the club building by saying that the gallery needed to start “rebuilding patronage and visitation”.
“The decision was made to focus on the core art, environment and indigenous connections with McClelland going forward. As a result, the Lapidary Club was advised in early March this year that the Gallery would not be rebuilding the premises that were destroyed in the fire last year. This position reflects the adjustments that we all face in a challenging operating environment,” she said. “My understanding is that the club has reached out to the local Frankston City Council, Mornington Shire Council, and others for support for new premises, and that currently, they are in discussion with the Frankston City Council. We certainly wish the Guild and its members the very best for the future.”
The Lapidary Club is temporarily based out of Frankston North Men’s Shed. It will hold its major fundraiser, the annual gem show, on 27 and 28 August at the Peninsula Community Theatre in Mornington.