There were many, many letters from the Trentham community who did not wish the Cosmopolitan site to be subdivided. This leaves a nasty taste in one's mouth that historic sites can be butchered. Perhaps when these special historic sites are sold there should be a condition that whoever buys these properties looks after them. One should do their homework before buying properties that are way over-priced, in fact around $200.000 over the valued price. The Cosmo was valued around three years ago when all business were running etc for $750.000. Was never council approved to have accommodation upstairs plus the one bedroom kit home at the back. Interesting. Quote - "The decision is a victory for the community of Trentham and a triumph for common sense." There is no victory for the Trentham community having to flight to keep their history. Is it common sense to destroy the grounds of the Cosmo?? We all hope this will not happen. Amanda Curran

In 1969 I bought the Cosmo with Natalie for $4,000. We put down $900 as deposit and Clive Pueker down the hill lent us the balance through his brother, a butcher in Kyenton, I think. We had three kids and a $300 holden ute. That was the extent of our capital so we weren't going to be making any startling renovated upgrades. The local started calling it the "hippy palace" so it was more of a culture change for us as well as the town. I remember having to wait until my 21st birthday to sign the mortgage agreement and it snowed as we dined in the central room. The first time I ever saw snow and for the next three years we lived there like a magical dream. Not so much because of the dope as locals suspected but because of the sheer reality of the place. We stayed three years and the stories lived have remained with me for a lifetime. We sold it at auction for $6,000 and split what we didn't still owe to fund a new chapter. Events that impacted on us probably resonated with with the stories of the century before. In the nineties I went back with a group of dancers and singers from the Gulf of Carpentaria. We instantly made friends with the new owner and we performed with firelight in the old orchard. The pear and apple trees. Much of the neighbourhood came and we stayed up late into the night talking of the past but at the same time making a new history. Those songmen could pickup songs in their dreams and interpret the meanings way back to legend. That orchard is like the bed of the unconsciousness that supported life of the pub. The old cottage, rarely entered, was a great store of memory and imagination whenever approached. It no doubt enriched innumerable trespassers through the years. About five years ago I visited again and stayed in the old bedroom. Changed greatly but still welcoming. Our youngest son is named Cosmo and we hope he will one day be able to visit this story place too. Fire we somehow accept as an irredeemable medium of change. Ever measure progress from its source in the heart. We do have a choice in all that we do. I am only a small time visitor with "The Cosmo" and while it changes I pray that it takes a gentler path and remembers to remember its past.

Dear Peter, would like to contact you, have you any old photos of the Cosmo? I am starting a history of the Cosmo and my Bickley family, would love any input you may have. My research has been an ongoing project for about 10 years. Perhaps someone reading this may have some information please contact me re photo’s, anything at all to help with this project. Amandacurran@bigpond.com Today is auction day. I am praying if sold the Cosmo is bought back to its original self – well, as close as it can be. And its history bought back. Regards Amanda L Curran Trentham