General Manager Warwick Bennett will tomorrow night recommend councillors allocate an initial $410,500 to refurbish the historic Sloane Street building.

If adopted, the policy will bring to a close months of tension between Historical Society volunteers and councillors.

The Society responded furiously when turfed from their St Clair Museum headquarters due to council concerns the building did not meet insurer standards.

In March the Society described the council decision as a “despicable act”.

But the feud, it seems, is destined to end tomorrow.

In his report, Mr Bennett recommends councillors: “Continue to own, maintain and operate St Clair Museum as an essential asset for the community and future generations”.

The outlay of $410,500 will be complemented by a further grant of $435,000 in future financial years.

Mr Bennett suggests council fixes cracks in building walls; replace the roof; improve ground drainage; investigate floor strength; and rebuild brickwork at the rear exit.

Upgrades including structural repairs to the chimneys and veranda will be carried out in future, pending councillors’ approval.

Historical Society president Garry White was ecstatic when told of the proposal.

“That’s really good news,” he said on Friday.

“I thank the new manager for his support …” Mr White admitted the last seven months – during which the Society has been permitted access to the building for just five hours a week – have proved trying.

“We’ve been battling on, it’s been pretty disappointing not having the public in there,” he added.

“We’ve tried to work with Council, thank God it’s paid off.

“Things are on the move. We can’t go crook at that, we’ve just got to work along with them. It’s been closed for nine months, it won’t be that long before we get back in there.”

While optimistic, Mr White isn’t getting too carried away.

Until council votes to adopt the proposal, the status quo remains. Celebrations will be kept on ice until after tomorrow night’s meeting.

“We only need five of them (councillors) to vote for us,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure they’ll go along with it. It all seems positive.”

Mr Bennett’s proposal isn’t confined to the exiting building’s renovation. His report suggests councillors follow through with ideas to construct a second building at the rear of St Clair for the purpose of storing historical archives.

“It is my belief that a purpose built building can be added to the St Clair building that meets all archival and historical needs of this museum and could be accessed through the existing building,” Mr Bennett writes in the report.

Responsibility and opportunity are the motivating factors behind the recommendation.

“It’s a magnificent asset to the Goulburn Mulwaree community,” the general manager explained.

“We have an obligation to restore this facility for future generations.”

Mr Bennett believes the proposal will win approval tomorrow.

“I’m very confident,” he said.

“Council’s always been supportive of St Clair. We’ve been looking for a logical way forward.

I’m hoping they’ll see this as the logical way forward.”

On top of the renovations, the general manager suggests council establish a working party, preferably headed by Councillor Robin Saville.

It’s a position Cr Saville will pursue with vigour.

“I’d be very happy to continue in my involvement with St Clair,” he said.

“The aim is to reopen St Clair and allow the community to go back in.

“And for that to go ahead, we need to invest hundreds and thousands of dollars.