March 1, 2024
A new Neighbourhood Centre will open later this year in Nanango, thanks to a partnership between South Burnett CTC and Heritage Nanango Community Funding (HNCF).
The centre will be located in the old Immanuel Lutheran Church building at 41 Drayton Street.
A formal handover of the keys from church chairperson Coral Sanders occurred on Friday afternoon, witnessed by former members of the congregation as well as CTC senior staff.
The building was bought recently by Heritage Nanango Community Funding for community use and has been leased to CTC.
CTC CEO Jason Erbacher said the Neighbourhood Centre was expected to open in May after refurbishments to the kitchen and bathroom areas.
Residents would then have access to a wide range of CTC services and programs, covering everything from family services to homelessness support.
Pending funding, Get Set For Work programs could also begin in July.
“The launch of the Nanango Neighbourhood Centre underscores our commitment to ensuring all members of our community have access to vital community services and support,” Jason said.
CTC also hoped to gain funding to introduce specialised programs to cater for the unique needs of local youth and the elderly.
The Neighbourhood Centre will aim to foster community connections as well as acting as a hub for outreach services.
Jason said it would be complementing – and not competing – with the existing volunteer-run Nanango Community Centre, which runs programs at the old Scout Den.
He said the location was perfect and would mean CTC could now better serve the second largest population centre in the South Burnett by offering a “safe space”.
HNCF chair Jane Hodgkinson said it was an exciting project.
“We know this is a sad day for the Lutheran Church congregation but we hope we can honour the church’s good works,” she said.
“We love that the historic old Station Master’s building will continue to be an asset for the community, after being lovingly cared for by the local Lutheran congregation for so many years.
She said the original vision of the Heritage Community Branch was to make a difference in Nanango, and this project did just that.
“We are delighted to collaborate again with South Burnett CTC to realise this vision, which we are confident will have a positive impact on future generations,” she said.
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The former Immanuel Lutheran Church has undergone several upgrades in the past, also thanks to Heritage.
In 2017, a new roof was installed as well as new window awnings and a side wall.
In 2022, HNCF provided the church with a $7427 grant to install and paint new handrails across the front of the building and paint the verandah walls.
The building was originally the Nanango station master’s residence, and has occupied the same position at the corner of Drayton Street and Railway Lane for well over a century.
The residence was built about 1911 when the Kingaroy-Theebine railway line was extended to Nanango via Edenvale, Hornley, Coolabunia, Hodgleigh and Darlil.
When the line was closed in 1964, the Lutheran Church bought the building for $2734.75, and after refurbishment it was dedicated as the Lutheran Church Centre of Nanango on December 19, 1965.
The building is listed on the South Burnett Regional Council’s Heritage Register.
The Nanango Lutheran Church has laboured over the years, under God’s love, for the future use of this lovely Heritage precinct when their congregation needed to close. This Church has been used as a Christian congregation for many years. It is delightful to see that the building is going to be used by CTC for the purpose to improve life and liveability of young people. Additionally, youth who come to our region looking for a new beginning. Bless this business negotiation. Hopefully outcomes that please God will emerge for the clients of CTC as they advance toward independent lives.