20 January 2012
The Briars homestead has received a $20,000 grant for conservation works, Mornington MP David Morris announced today.
Mr Morris said the project would involve repairs to the laundry, dairy and apple store and was essential for the ongoing conservation of one of the earliest pastoral properties on the Mornington Peninsula.
He said the property had a high educative potential and works would assist in the interpretation of the farm.
The works include replacement of gutters and downpipes, repointing and removing salt affected brickwork, excavating ground levels, timber repairs and repainting. Briars volunteers and trainees will undertake less specialised works such as excavation. Recent work has included re-establishment of the orchard and kitchen garden.
The Briars was taken up in 1840 and buildings erected from the mid-19th century by Alexander Balcombe. About 17 of the original 40 buildings remain.
In 1976 a Balcombe descendent donated part of the property jointly to the Shire of Mornington and the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and the Shire purchased the remaining property. The homestead has been refurbished and opened as a museum with collections from the Dame Mabel Brookes Napoleonic Collection. The outbuildings house a collection of machinery.
The Briars has a partnership with Peninsula Training and Employment Program (PTEP) to host socially disadvantaged young school leavers.
Minister for Planning Matthew Guy said the grant was one of 13 community projects around Victoria being funded to preserve and protect significant heritage places and objects.
He said Victoria’s Heritage Grants supported local communities to care for and manage the state’s rich and diverse heritage, with this year’s program totalling $1.13 million.
Mr Guy said the grants recognised and supported the enthusiasm and commitment of many dedicated volunteer organisations which worked to preserve and safeguard our shared history.
Victoria’s heritage grants support the repair and restoration of publicly accessible and important heritage places and objects managed by local government and community not-for-profit organisations and are provided for places in the Victorian Heritage Register or included in a Heritage Overlay. Funding for heritage place grants totalling $500,000 was provided by the Victorian Property Fund.
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