General News
23 June, 2024
Heritage plaque officially on display
The wet and cold weather didn't stop a crowd from forming to celebrate the unveiling of the Heritage Victoria plaque at the Warracknabeal and District Ladies Rest Rooms in Scott Street recently.
Yarriambiack Shire Council mayor Kylie Zanker had the honour of unveiling the plaque for all to see before those gathered celebrated with afternoon tea.
"This is the only privately owned and operating Ladies Rest Rooms left in Victoria," Cr Zanker said.
Committee president Eileen Sholl said the Ladies Rest Rooms is a staple in town, with many people travelling to Warracknabeal just to see the facility.
"It's not the building that is listed, it's the social part of it that is," Mrs Sholl said.
Since the 1920's, the Rest Rooms have been a place where only ladies were allowed to enter to carry out duties such as change nappies, feed babies or just sit for a moment while in town with young children.
For many years, men and boys over the age of six were not allowed to step foot in the Rest Rooms under any circumstances.
Today, children of all ages, and men with children, are allowed to enter, but use of the dedicated toilets is still limited to women-only.
"If men are fulfilling their fatherly duties then they are allowed in, but mostly they aren't supposed to be in there," Mrs Sholl said.
"Most men don't go in."
The dedication of committee members over the years has allowed the facility to be maintained and operate in its intended manner.