Mitchell Shire Council has ordered the crumbling lion statue at the top of the Red Lion Hotel be removed for safety reasons.
With the rear of the Red Lion statute already fallen away, the council has deemed the statue to be at risk of falling onto the street below the vacant building.
The statute above the hotel has been a staple along Sydney Street, Kilmore for nearly 170 years, with the hotel itself in existence since 1856.
However, with the Red Lion’s hindlegs and tail crumbling onto the footpath below, it is posing a safety risk to pedestrians walking past the building.
Mitchell Shire chief executive Brett Luxford said council were notified of the crumbling statute.
“A council officer removed loose parts of the lion when the issue was reported,” he said.
“The footpath will be closed while works are underway and traffic management will be in place.
“The site is being inspected each day and there is currently no immediate danger to the public. No damage to footpaths has been found.
“The property owner has been issued with a building order to remove the lion.”
I wonder if it could have some conservation treatment and be reinstated in the future.
Why is it not open anymore??
It had to go, it’s dangerous, we get it, but will it be replaced? The” Red Lion” , is Iconic to Kilmore, its an integral part of our towns history , and we’ve already lost so much due to neglect and lack of maintenance. Let’s not lose this too.
Oh!!! No!!!
It’s a sad day when the Red Lions bum and tail fall off!!
It’s a shame the exterior of the building wsn’t looked after otherwise Red would still have his rear end..he’s probably distressed at the state of himself and our main street!!