THE Steppes Hall and grounds have been a source of enormous community pride in the Lakes Country since the hall was built in the late 1800s.
One of the major improvements, completed in 2002, was the installation of the Country Pioneers Plaques, a series of rock monuments with interpretation plaques set out along the front boundary that tell the story of the people who once lived and worked in the area.
The plaques tell fascinating stories about timber workers, lake country shepherds, the hydro workers, rabbit trappers, hunters and snarers, road patrolmen, Inland Fisheries workers and the early country landowners.
However Steppes Hall Committee president Irene Glover said the committee is currently battling an ongoing vandalism issue, with the Pioneer Plaques being stolen one by one.
The 12 plaques, which are easily accessible for all visitors to the area, were sponsored by various businesses and individuals when they were erected, and they’ve been targeted by people who Mrs Glover said “must come here with crowbars” to prise them off.
So far four have been taken, and being firmly glued, screwed and embedded into solid rock, this has been no mean feat, with the last one taken recognising road patrol men.
Three have been replaced by the original sponsors, at a cost of nearly $2000 each, but the committee will need to fork out for the most recent removal. “It’s very disappointing, they were put here to recognise our heritage and pay tribute to the pioneers – if anyone knows where any of them are we would love it if they were dropped back to the hall,” she said.
The Steppes Hall is also about to have a new fence built around the perimeter, mainly to keep the wombats out which are digging under the hall foundations and causing issues.
A solution is also being sought to the issue of pine needles from two big heritage-listed pine trees affecting the roof and guttering.