Parks Victoria will spruce up the Point Cook Homestead in an effort to secure a new long-term tenant for the site, two years after its former tenants went into liquidation.
Parks Victoria district manager Rocky Barca said planning was under way to upgrade a number of the homestead’s facilities, including decommissioning the septic tanks and establishing a new sewer connection, installing new toilets, improving the air-conditioning and tending to other electrical issues, and carrying out structural repairs on the buildings.
Mr Barca said the upgrade was expected to take about 18 months.
“[We are] continuing to review options for the long-term future of Point Cook Homestead and are working to ensure the best outcome for the park, community and visitor experience,” he said.
“Parks Victoria will continue to initiate short-term agreements for use of the current homestead facilities with community groups.”
The homestead has been closed to the public since July, 2015, when the tenants went into voluntary liquidation.
The closure left in the lurch organisers of 19 weddings and other functions, including seven for which deposits had been paid.
Most recently, Lantern Ghost Tours and escape-room company TRAPT teamed up to host an interactive murder mystery night at the historic bluestone building, focusing on the homestead’s alleged paranormal past.
Built in 1853, Point Cook Homestead was originally a property of the Chirnside family and is considered to be one of Victoria’s earliest pastoral homestead complexes.
The homestead is rumoured to be haunted by six people – including Thomas Chirnside, who died in 1887.
