General News
10 March, 2023
Sign of a whole new approach to town
Horsham's new roadside entrance signs have been installed - with recognition of the city's Tidy Towns awards to feature on a dedicated sign "in coming weeks". Tidy Towns committee members have been upset over the removal of the imposing "Welcome to...
Horsham's new roadside entrance signs have been installed - with recognition of the city's Tidy Towns awards to feature on a dedicated sign "in coming weeks".
Tidy Towns committee members have been upset over the removal of the imposing "Welcome to Horsham" sign on Stawell Road, which referenced the eight-time winner of Victoria's Tidy Town of the Year.
It has been replaced with a sign representing Horsham Rural City Council's "new visual identity" as part of a $787,000 rebranding exercise announced late last year.
The signs are now installed on both Western Highway approaches to the city, with lighting yet to be added.
"At the southern entrance, the former ‘welcome to Horsham’ sign has now been removed," HRCC Mayor Cr Gulline said.
"In the coming weeks Horsham’s successful Tidy Towns history will be recognised with a dedicated sign located nearby."
President of the Horsham Tidy Towns committee, David Eltringham, said opposition to the relocation of the sign had been strong.
In The Horsham Times last week he said 47 people had responded to a Facebook post saying they were "not happy" with the sign's removal.
He also referenced a post from the mayor "saying that it wasn't a huge deal". This was not correct.
The Facebook post from the mayor read: "Horsham's Western Highway entrance signs are being replaced and modernised.
"Council is very proud of Horsham's Tidy Towns history and will recognise the amazing work and achievements in additional signage nearby".
Council also disputed a comment from Mr Eltringham in which he said: "Council communicated the alternative with us for three weeks before taking down the sign."
A spokesperson for HRCC said: "Mr Eltringham wrote to local media regarding this sign as far back as the middle of last year – but the story says the committee was only told of the change three weeks ago.
"Council will recognise Horsham’s successful Tidy Towns history with a new and more appropriate sign located nearby."
The signs are part of a rebranding package to be rolled out over the coming months, including the master logo, which was designed by Melbourne-based firm Heine Jones at a cost of $20,000.
Cr Gulline said the new sign incorporated "iconic Wimmera aspects such as reeds, crops and yabbies" with typography "inspired by stencilling on historic landmarks in the city and the lettering used on wool bales".
"Contrary to some reports, HRCC is proud of the community’s Tidy Towns achievements and doesn’t want to remove reference to it," Cr Gulline said.