Financial support for the continued and complete refurbishment of the Axion Esti Monastery buildings in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote and the redevelopment of the surrounding area of the Monastery buildings was promised today by senior Federal Labor Party officials.
In the event that Anthony Albanizi's party wins the May 21 elections, his government will support with ten million dollars the work already begun at the Axion Esti, the seat of the Theophilos Bishop of Cherasunate, Eumenius.
The architect Vassilis Kavellaris spoke to our Programme about the plans.
Mr. Kavellaris presented the plans and electronic models of the project to the Members.
The business model on which the spaces will operate is currently being developed.
The cost of the project, when completed, is expected to be $70 million.
The overall project is overseen by Yannis Tatoulis, former director of the Hellenic Museum of Melbourne.
The renovation and upgrading of the building structures of the Monastery have already begun and the architect Thanasis Andronas is in charge of the project.
The announcements were made by Labour's Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles, who is elected in the Scullin seat and was at the Axion Esti this afternoon.
Mr Gills said the building has great sentimental value for both the Greeks of Melbourne and the residents of the greater Northcote and Darebin area.
According to Mr. Giles, a future Albatross government is committed to funding the renovation of the building and the redevelopment of the surrounding area to the tune of ten million dollars.
In a statement to our Programme, the MP for Cooper, Ged Kearney, said there is very strong support from the wider community for this project.
She says that the ten million promised by her party is too much.
He believes that important work will be done on a building which is associated with the presence of the Greeks of Melbourne, and also the Order of the Little Sisters of the Poor, where it once had its headquarters.
Instrumental in Labour's commitment to funding the project was the expatriate MP for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou.
The MP said the vision for the redevelopment of the building and its surroundings and its use as a cultural space dates back to the 1990s.
She said she was excited that this vision is beginning to take shape.
It is estimated that the project will be completed in 2024, the centenary year of the founding of the Archdiocese of Australia.
Also present at the Monastery of Axion Esti were State Senator for South East Metropolitan Melbourne Lee Tarlamis, State MP for Northcote, Katerina Theofanous and Darebin Councillor Emily Demetriades.
