THE future of a historic Shoreham war memorial is uncertain, with the council poised to sell the land it stands on to the owner of a neighbouring property.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council wants to sell a section of Buxton Reserve at 47-57 Marine Parade for $16,500 to the owner of 39 Marine Parade.

The issue stems from a bungled 1990s subdivision that split the memorial land in two with a third of it on private property and the rest on the council-owned land that forms the reserve.

Only the portion of the memorial on the private land is protected by a heritage overlay.

The land is a remnant of Camp Buxton and home to the Cyril Young Open Air Memorial Chapel, created in honour of the Young brothers who were killed during WWII.

But over the past 20 years, with no clear ownership, the memorial has fallen into disrepair. The private landowner now wants to take over the land.

Red Hill Ward councillor David Gill said the landowner wanted to “protect and preserve” the chapel.

“It’s been left to deteriorate for the past 20 years and action needed to be taken to prevent further disintegration,” Cr Gill said.

“This split ownership is part of the reason why the chapel hasn’t been looked after.”

If the sale goes ahead the council said the entire memorial would be protected by a heritage overlay.

But Shoreham Community Association (CSA) and Flinders District Historical Society are adamant the land should stay in public hands and the memorial be restored.

CSA member Peter Renkin said it was “inappropriate” to sell the land, which was part of a larger property left to the community by the late Henry Buxton.

“The sale of the land is totally counter to the original intention of Mr Buxton, who wanted the community to benefit from the land,” Mr Renkin said.

“The chapel is the last remnant of Camp Buxton that is publicly accessible.”

Camp Buxton was established in about 1925 after the Buxton family gave six acres of bushland to the YMCA.

Mr Renkin said it wasn’t necessary to sell the land to restore and maintain the chapel.

The council has advertised its intention to sell the land and is seeking public feedback on the plan.

Submissions can be made until August 11 by writing to Mornington Peninsula Shire, at Private Bag 1000, Rosebud, 3939 or by emailing property@mornpen.vic.gov.au

THE YOUNG BROTHERS

● Cyril Young was a Captain in the Australian Army and died as a prisoner of war in 1945

● The chapel’s stone lectern was dedicated to his brother Ivan who was shot down and killed in 1942 as an Australian Air Force Pilot over Alamein

● The Young family had close ties with the YMCA with Cyril acting as Chairman of the Camp Buxton Committee in 1939.