Volunteers are helping revive the historic homestead precinct at Werribee Park.
The homestead, which is a short walk from Werribee Mansion, features the original houses, stables and yards of the former Chirnside family farm.
The area now also includes a chook ‘mansion’, built by Work for the Dole volunteers.
The group has spent about 280 hours building the eight-metre by seven-metre wire enclosure from recycled materials found at Werribee Park.
The fox-proof yard has a mesh roof, a grass pad to provide nutrition to boost egg production and areas inside the pen that are shaded by lemon, lime, orange and feijoa trees.
Volunteers from the Karen community have also created three vegetable plots at the homestead. One of the plots features a woven bamboo gazebo that is covered in climbing beans.
Werribee Park senior horticulturist Adam Smith said it is great to see the original and oldest part of the park coming back to life.
“It’s a great example of just how much can be achieved with help from dedicated groups of volunteers,” he said.
