Restoration project preserves special piece of Comboyne history

Owners Anne-Marie and Peter Newman have restored the original cedar cottage, which served as Comboyne's first police station, and the slab-timber former gaol in River Street.

Research into Comboyne and the site fed into the project as the Newmans set about preserving the slice of history and creating Larrikins Lock-up, a garden and woodcraft centre.

Larrikins Lock-up is located in the 1905 restored slab-timber gaol.

The Newmans reused every piece of original timber in addition to locally donated timber from a 130-year-old shed.

Any second-hand material used in the restoration is in sympathy with the original building.

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Second-hand corrugated iron adorns the roof and some of the old roofing iron was used in the retail counter.

The restored former police station/cottage, now named Bond Cottage in honour of Comboyne's first police officer Constable Walter Bond, is rented.

The long-term goal is to operate a complementary business in the cottage.

Constable Bond once lived in the cottage with his wife and four children.

"Constable Bond served the Comboyne community for many years and later returned to live here and many of his descendants still live locally," Mr Newman said.

"We have been delighted that they have been coming in and telling us stories about their family and sharing their historic photos."

Meanwhile, mayor Peta Pinson officially opened Larrikins Lock-up on May 28.

The gardens feature mature trees from quince to pear, walnut and rhododendron.

The Thone River skirts the River Street site.

Mr Newman said the new venture added enthusiasm to the wider business community and there was a shared business vitality.

"There is a shared community positive attitude about Comboyne going forward," he said.

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