EXCLUSIVE
Brides and grooms have been left in the lurch and the future of the Point Cook Homestead remains uncertain after its tenants went into liquidation earlier this month.
The tenants entered voluntary liquidation on July 7 and the site has since been closed to the public.
David Quin, of PCI Partners, liquidator of the company that previously operated the homestead, said the closure of the business would affect 19 functions.
“Any functions booked at the homestead will not proceed,” Mr Quin said.
“Deposits had been received for seven of these functions.
“At this stage, it appears unlikely there will be any return to creditors. Accordingly, I do not expect that any people who paid deposits will receive a refund.”
Rocky Barca, district manager of Parks Victoria, which owns the homestead, said the organisation was assessing options for the building’s future management and intended to seek expressions of interest for a new lease.
Bride-to-be Jessie Anderson and fiance Nathan Mattia put a deposit down for their February, 2016, nuptials three weeks ago and haven’t been able to get in touch with management since.
Ms Anderson said the couple did not even get a receipt to confirm payment and only found out that the Point Cook Homestead was shut down when her fiance went to the homestead and found it locked.
“I’m heartbroken and frustrated all at once,” she said. “The park rangers had passed on our details and someone from PCI Partners called and mentioned that we would go onto a list and eventually, once the assets are sold off, we may get our money back – but I highly doubt it.”
Ms Anderson said the couple would postpone the wedding until later next year.
The Point Cook Homestead, which includes a functions centre and cafe, is steeped in history.
It was originally the property of the Chirnside family and is considered to be one of Victoria’s earliest pastoral homestead complexes.
