Port residents upset about proposal to demolish historic building

PORTARLINGTON resident’s say they are in shock after the City of Greater Geelong received a proposal to demolish a historic building that dates back to the 1850s.

The city has received a planning application for 1-3 Turner Court, which proposes a three-lot sub-division and three-dwelling development (one exceeding 7.5m in height).

This proposal will involve destroying the original manager’s house for the historic Portarlington Mill.

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) has confirmed that while the Portarlington Mill is protected, the original manager’s house is not classified by the National Trust and does not have a Heritage Overlay under the City of Greater Geelong Planning Scheme.

The city’s director of planning, design and Development Gareth Smith said the former manager’s residence was “not owned by the National Trust and does not have any form of heritage control over it”.

Local resident Elizabeth Turner said that when history was lost, it could never be replaced.

Ms Turner said the manager’s house was built around the 1850s so the manager was close-by to oversee the production of flour.

She said at the time the Bellarine Peninsula was known as the “granary of the colony”.

“In 1962, the Shire of Bellarine purchased the Portarlington Mill to avoid its demolition and gave the building to the National Trust.

“The manager’s house was privately owned and on a separate title.

“The owner built a contemporary façade around the original house to avoid it being registered as a historic building.

“The manager’s house still exists within the façade, rich with ornate doors, windows, chimneys and history.”

Ms Turner said her great-great grandfather, Captain Edward Marriner, ran a shipping business from Portarlington to Williamstown and carried produce from the Mill.

“The Victorian government intends to declare the Bellarine Peninsula a Distinctive Area and Landscape,” Mrs Turner said.

“We already have parts of Portarlington zoned to allow three storey housing and it seems there will be more planning applications for intensive development before the government can enact any changes.”

Ms Turner said if the application was approved, and the original Mill manager’s house was demolished, she and others would be pushing for any original historical pieces to be donated to the National Trust for display at the Mill.

Public comment closes on August 6. To have your say, head to geelongaustralia.com.au/advertisedplanning.