A former Victorian Labor minister who’s reworking a run-down French chateau along with his fiancée has been referred to as out for asking the general public to donate to the undertaking.
Tim Holding and Felicity Selkirk purchased the Château de Purnon for $1.19million in 2020, and have been working day and evening ever since to revive it.
The 105-room fortress is 235-years-old and is close to the French village of Verrue, which has simply 400 residents.
In addition to the primary 18th century Louis XVI model chateau, there are two fundamental buildings, a dried out moat, cottages, stables, a wine barrel room, a chapel, a boulangerie and an orangerie.
Mr Holding was a Victorian MP from 1999 to 2013, and a yr after he resigned he set off for France.
He and his fiancée have been usually documenting their progress on the chateau, with Mr Holding coming to Melbourne on July 26 to have fun the launch of Les Amis de Purnon (Mates of Purnon), a not-for-profit affiliation to help the restoration of Château de Purnon.
Tickets price $150 a head.
Tim Holding and Felicity Selkirk purchased the Château de Purnon for $1.19million in 2020, and have been working day and evening ever since to revive it
The 105-room fortress is 235-years-old and is close to the French village of Verrue, which has simply 400 residents
The request for donations has attracted criticism from The Australian’s Margin Call editor Yoni Bashan, who referred to the restoration as a ‘self-enriching vainness undertaking’.
‘The individuals are already paying for this man to yuk it up within the French countryside. Now, within the final act of p***-taking, he’s asking punters to assist him pay for it. C’est incroyable! (It’s unimaginable)’ the column – written in a response to a bit by The Herald Solar – learn.
The column additionally said that Mr Holding would have left parliament with a pension of round $150,000, whereas his fiancée is an heiress to the Selkirk Bricks firm.
The couple first got here throughout the chateau in 2019, they usually now reside in a small wing of the property that has heating and a shower.
The pair had checked out 15 different chateaus earlier than they settled on Purnon, which on the donation web site, is described as being in a state of ‘critical peril’.
‘Courting again greater than a century, the slate roof of the fortress is out of use, threatening the conservation of the framework which covers the 2 higher flooring of the home and that of the flooring,’ the web site learn.
‘A little bit-known treasure, the fortress requires energetic and pressing motion to put it aside from spoil and protect its authenticity.’
The couple have requested for donations from the general public to assist fund the restoration
The couple first got here throughout the chateau in 2019, they usually now reside in a small wing of the property that has heating and a shower
The pair had checked out 15 different chateaus earlier than they settled on Purnon, which on the donation web site, is described as being in a state of ‘critical peril’
Mr Holding and Ms Selkirk are hoping the fortress could also be used for weddings, exhibitions, concert events and guided excursions as soon as the restoration is full.
Greater than 7,000 euros have been raised for the undertaking, out of a purpose of 150,000 euros (AUD$247,000).
The fortress and components of its environment have additionally been listed as Historic Monuments that means French authorities must approve any work being carried out.
The couple together with their ardour undertaking have featured in tv exhibits and magazines comparable to Good Weekend over the three-year restoration.
Mr Holding and Ms Selkirk are hoping the fortress could also be used for weddings, exhibitions, concert events and guided excursions as soon as the restoration is full
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