Seeing great potential in the old station master's cottage in Wingham has inspired a campaign to turn the building into a community hub and tourist attraction.
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Bill Beach of the Manning Valley Historical Society has rallied support from other local groups who are backing the idea to restore the 111 year old building and see it house old railway memorabilia and be an outlet for locally made crafts.
Members of Manning Valley Historical Society, Wingham Chamber of Commerce, Wingham Advancement Group and Wingham Rotary have been meeting since mid last year to discuss the project.
The 1910 cottage sits among mature trees on a small parcel of land sandwiched between the railway and Dennes Street opposite Sheather's Machinery in Wingham.
Bill believes the quaint building was the railway station master's house until the early 1970s.
"Community Housing Ltd own it" he said.
"Until about five or six years ago it was used for emergency housing."
It has sat unused since then and last year the windows and doors were boarded up but not before squatters and vandals visited.
The team haven't had an official building report done yet but Wingham Chamber of Commerce vice president Kevin Ellis estimates the project will cost at least $100,000 to renovate.
"It seems to have fairly good bones," he said.
"I think it looks worse than it is."
Bill and Kevin also hope the community might pull together to lend a hand.
"We can all get in there with a paintbrush," laughs Bill.
In order to see the vision realised Bill said they need to acquire the rights to the building from Community Housing Ltd, negotiate a lease on the land which is owned by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and of course get permission from MidCoast Council.
And get some grant funding.
It's proving to be a little more tricky than first anticipated.
"The red tape is the worst thing," Kevin said.
The team have been in contact with the ARTC via federal member Dr David Gillespie and have been discussing the project with a contact at Community Housing Ltd in Sydney.
They also met with a representative of Mid Coast Council five weeks ago and are waiting for a response.
This was necessary as the building is deemed a heritage item under the Greater Taree Local Environmental Plan 2010.
There's also word on the street that another party is interested in buying the property and relocating it.
Bill and Kevin are hopeful things will go in their favour and the house will stay where it is and be restored for the community.
"We're not giving up," said Bill.
"We're just waiting patiently for council."
