Asubstantial grant for Penola’s William Wilson Cottage in Petticoat Lane has been approved, with the town’s National Trust planning to turn the heritage building into a bed and 
breakfast.

The build is part of the Petticoat Lane Reinvigoration Project and received grant funding of $31,431.80 from the Heritage Tourism Grants Program 2021 to 2022 funding round, a pilot program initiated by the State Government.

National Trust of South Australia Penola Branch secretary Kerry DeGaris said the grant money would be used to add a bathroom and a kitchenette to the existing building.

The build will cost between $60,000 to $70,000 and additional expenses include carpet and doors, which will total approximately $20,000.

Because the cottage is National Trust Heritage listed, Ms DeGaris said they must adhere to heritage requirements, such as particular building materials.

Ms DeGaris hoped the project would be completed by the end of the year.

“Because it’s been vacant for a while we’re excited we can spend some money on it, do it up and hopefully get it utilised on a regular basis,” she said.

“This will mean that it will be maintained in a much better way than it has in the past.”

Ms DeGaris said the facility would generate income for the Trust, which would be put towards restoring other buildings in Penola.

William Wilson is a significant figure in Penola and Coonawarra history who was involved in the early Coonawarra Fruit Colony with John Riddoch.

Mr Wilson hailed from Scotland, emigrated to South Australia in 1849 and eventually settled in Penola.

Ms DeGaris envisaged the bed and breakfast would attract more people to Petticoat Lane and hoped visitors would appreciate the heritage in Penola along with developing an understanding of the history involved.

“I think it reflects where we have come from and what the town used to be like,” Ms DeGaris said.

“I know with the Wilson Cottage there are lots of descendants, including the Balnaves family, that feel very passionate about us maintaining this history so that we can pass that legacy on to the next generation to help them understand where we came from.”

William Wilson descendants who are interested in contributing funds towards the project can contact Kerry DeGaris via kerry.degaris@bigpond.com or Pete Balnaves via pete.balnaves@balnaves.com.au.