The council had closed the local history archive and museum due to safety concerns, changed the locks and barred its committee and the public from accessing the 1843 building.

“It was like ripping our heart out,” Goulburn and District Historical Society vice-president Roger Bayley said.

“The whole reason for our existence is to tell Goulburn’s story and it looked like no one cared, that we could lose the museum and the people who knew its history.”

One year later, the outlook is much brighter.

St Clair is gearing up for its grand reopening on Saturday, April 18.

Thanks to more than $800,000 committed by council over two years last October, a “renovation rescue” is underway.

On top of that, councillors at their most recent meeting agreed in principle to build a modern archive and research facility at the rear of St Clair.

It would solve a space headache for the extensive collection, introduce temperature control and allow room for historical records from other sources.

A working party, chaired by Cr Robin Saville, tentatively recommended it be connected via a corridor to St Clair’s upper floor. Importantly, stables at the rear will be conserved.

The cost, unknown at this stage, will be included in the 2015/16 budget and the ensuing three years.

Council will also allocate $20,000 to employ a part time museum officer at St Clair to coordinate volunteers and bookings, initiate and develop exhibitions, promote activities, manage the collection and establish outreach programs.

All commitments are dependent on a positive structural engineering report for the entire building. At this stage, only the upper floor has been cleared for public access.

At the most recent council meeting, Cr Saville praised the five-member working party for its extensive work.

“This concept goes well beyond an architectural upgrade,” he said.

Cr Saville said the archive would be great boon for the city in a logical location. Likewise, he argued current opening hours (three days a week) were not acceptable.

Visitors turned up only to be told the facility was closed “Council has done its part and now the community needs to step up,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Bob Kirk described it as a terrific outcome “given all the banter and hysteria around St Clair.”

The council is applying for grant funding to complete a conservation management plan on the complex.

Historical Society president Garry White welcomed the Council’s changed attitude to St Clair. While negotiations will be necessary on some aspects, he’s just happy to be back. In more recent time, Council has freed up restrictions on members’ access to the museum.

Now it’s full steam ahead to the grand opening in conjunction with Council.

Mayor Geoff Kettle will cut the ribbon on April 18, followed by speeches and afternoon tea for officials and the public

The Society is planning an exhibition - ‘They Were Our Boys’ featuring the origins of the Light Horse in Goulburn, Anzac and Gallipoli themes, the contribution of Goulburn citizens during World War One, life at St Clair during the war, mementos, uniforms, paintings and photos.

Mr Bayley has managed to access some rare items for the exhibition, nicely timed one week before the 100th anniversary of Anzac.

The avid historian, who has been a member for 15 years, said the collective knowledge of Mr White, his wife Robyn and member Gordon Thompson, was irreplaceable.

“They’re walking encyclopaedias and once you’ve lost that, it’s gone forever,” he said.

“(But now) the future for St Clair is looking very good.” 

-- architect's opinion key

THE council plans to engage architects in coming months to design an archive centre at the rear of St Clair.

General manager Warwick Bennett said it was impossible to estimate a cost at this stage until it was known how the facility could link in with the 1843 villa.

A working party has recommended a connecting walkway to St Clair’s upper floor.

“Over the next three to four months we will get architectural plans together and see how it can also blend in with the heritage,” he said.

The council has already spent $410,000 on St Clair this financial year, including on roof repairs. Structural work required on the lower floor is less than expected.

Mr Bennett said at least another $500,000 would be spent in 2014/15, rising to $1.4m over two years. The Liberals also committed $90,000 to restoration in the last week of the state election campaign.

“It’s a lot of money,” Mr Bennett said of the overall expenditure.

“But it’s a fantastic asset. It’s one of Australia’s oldest buildings and we have an obligation to extend its life.”