3 Jan 2017

Plan to put 'The Castle' on display in NSW

9:15 pm on 3 January 2017

Plans to move the suburban Melbourne house used to film The Castle and turn it into an Aussie comedy museum could save the building from demolition.

The real house: 3 Dagonet Street, Strathmore, Melbourne. The owner wants to demolish the house to make way for two townhouses.

The real house: 3 Dagonet Street, Strathmore, Melbourne. The owner wants to demolish the house to make way for two townhouses. Photo: Google Maps

Federation Council administrator Mike Eden said the house would likely find a new home in Corowa, not far from Albury in New South Wales.

"It is a pretty important part of Australian film history and Australian comedy history, so [the move would be] a really good result if we can make it happen," he said.

Members of the Kerrigan family, dad Darryl Kerrigan (third from left) led a fight against developers in the cult film.

Cult classic Aussie comedy film The Castle Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Mr Eden said a local tourist venue, the Corowa whisky and chocolate factory, wanted to relocate the house and turn it into museum.

He said the theme of the museum would be "Australian comedy in general, with the theme of The Castle ... running through."

"We've also been looking at other opportunities to use the building, such as where the bride and groom might get changed before they have their wedding at the venue there at the top of the whisky factory in Corowa, maybe a bridal suite in one of the bedrooms," he said.

"So there's a whole lot of ideas we've been putting to the people that would be housing and funding the project, because it won't be funded by the council."

Mr Eden said while the deal had not been officially signed yet, "in principle [it] has been done".

The original location of the house is next to Essendon Airport in the Melbourne suburb of Strathmore, and its present owner wants to redevelop.

The story turned into a saga when Moonee Valley Council rejected a proposal for heritage protection for the house.

Mr Eden said along with the factory, the Australian Institute of Comedy would also help with funding.

He said the hope was for it to become a commercial tourist attraction, and they expected the move to cost about $20,000.

"The costs aren't prohibitive in the scheme of things, and we're hoping it pays for itself in the long run," he said.

"[They] would be obviously applying for grants and what not from other government departments," he said.

Mr Eden said the owner of the house was happy it could be saved from demolition.

"I think it was pretty important to her that it went to something like a museum where the general public can come and have a look ... that it didn't just end up in landfill," he said.

- ABC