Advocates call for heritage intervention on Port farm plan

GEELONG region heritage advocates hope developers and planning authorities will modify a planning application for a planned hospitality and tourism business at a protected Portarlington farm.

Lincoln’s Farm, at Point Richards Road, is proposed to be restored and rebuilt internally under a plan to create a chocolate manufacturing centre, restaurant, and farm stay development.

The proposal includes “repurposing” the remaining former dairy at the site including partial demolition and infill works for use as animal stables.

The bluestone building is subject to a heritage overlay under the City of Greater Geelong planning scheme and is recognised as having state significance.

Bellarine Chocolate Co’s plan received mixed reviews during its public consultation period, with heritage loss for the significant property among concerns raised with the idea.

Geelong and Region Branch of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) community liaison Jennifer Bantow urged planners to retain the historic building.

“It is a tragedy there is only one small remnant of the buildings remaining. This is an opportunity to conserve and restore that remaining heritage structure,” Mrs Bantow said.

“Geelong and Region Branch National Trust of Australia (Victoria) strongly objects to partial demolition and infill of the former Lincoln’s Farmhouse cheese cellar.

“We encourage the developer to reconsider the treatment of this highly significant heritage structure and make an important lasting positive contribution to the heritage of the area and particularly to the story of the Bellarine Peninsula, by restoring the cheese cellar to its original form.”

Mrs Bantow said the trust “would support an assessment of the property by Heritage Victoria to consider inclusion on the Heritage Inventory as a significant archaeological site”.

“As well as investigation of the cheese cellar this would also enable examination of the two underground wells believed to still exist on the site, and possibly remains of other buildings.”

The cheese cellar building is made from the same locally quarried material as the National Trust-managed Portarlington Mill. The Geelong branch believes these are the only surviving buildings of Portarlington stone.

In its plan, Bellarine Chocolate Co stated its refurbishment would “greatly enhance the significance of the site in comparison to existing conditions”.

“The proposed works have been carefully designed in regard to character, appearance and significance of the heritage building and proposed additional buildings to the site.”

“Although the proposed choclaterie, accommodation buildings and greenhouse will bring upon a major change to the site, it is not considered a change that will result in inappropriate or unacceptable heritage impacts.”