National Trust advocating for authentic restoration and visitor experiences According to the National Trust, Osborne House and surrounding park is an outstanding example of architecture from a period when successful pastoralists built mansions along Geelong’s Western Beach. The National Wool Museum was established to celebrate the significance of the region’s wool industry with Geelong being known as the ‘wool centre of the world’ and Osborne House comprises an important part of this story. The National Trust of Australia, Victoria (NTAV) has a long connection with Osborne House with the property being classified and placed on the National Trust Register at state level of significance (file B0935) in 1959. National Trust representative for the Geelong region, Jennifer Bantow OAM, said that Osborne House and Park had substantial heritage value for the Geelong area and its proximity to the new Spirit of Tasmania terminal at Corio Quay would make it an essential part of the visitor experience in this region. “In 20 years, Osborne Park will be a high-profile tourist destination. The property has the potential to be marketed as a landmark, comparable to Werribee Mansion and Barwon Park Mansion,” Jennifer said. “The venue is ideal for many functions including public events such as exhibitions, festivals and ceremonies or private events including weddings and conferences.” With specific parts of the building and stables able to be secured separately, Jennifer said that independent activities could take place simultaneously.
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“There could be something happening every day at Osborne Park. For example, a restaurant or café could be operated by a lease arrangement with a private provider, while private individuals or community groups could use other rooms.” The National Trust (with 50 years of experience in heritage property management in the Geelong region), advocates for the restoration of Osborne House in accordance with the Conservation Management Plan by Lovell Chen, 2009. Pointing to the many examples of significant Victorian interior decoration that have survived at Osborne House, Jennifer said: “Although they need restoration, they have survived. There is even a list of the exact items of furniture that were in the house in the 1850s.” Other significant features of the house include: the faux marble wooden Corinthian columns, the original staircase, relief textured Anaglypta wallpapers, metal ceilings, and the magnificent unpainted timber ceiling surfaces, which are especially evident in the ballroom. There are also leadlight windows in the original entrance hallway and former billiard room. The original Osborne Park entrance gates are historically and aesthetically significant as they comprise six substantial square pillars of large rusticated bluestone blocks and Barrabool sandstone capping. These are the same building materials as
were used for the construction of Osborne House. When asked how important it was to the National Trust that Osborne House continues to provide a daily calendar of activities for the community, Jennifer said it was “vitally important”. “The entire Osborne Park property, buildings, and surrounding land, as well as its adjacent public sports grounds, must be accessible for a daily calendar of activities. The property must continue to cater for the public, locals, visitors, tourists, individuals, specific interest, cultural and school groups,” she said.
“THE NATIONAL TRUST WILL CONTINUE TO HELP WORK TOWARDS GRADUALLY ACHIEVING A PROPER AUTHENTIC, TRUE RESTORATION OF OSBORNE PARK TO ITS ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURAL FORM. “We will also continue to help ensure community and public use, with accessibility to everyone to understand its original and unrivalled story.” For the National Trust of Australia, Victoria’s complete response, click here.
