THE Coolart Homestead, a treasured late-Victorian mansion in Somers, has officially reopened to the public for the first time in seven years.
The 1895 building, located within the Coolart Wetlands and Homestead Estate with expansive lawns and gardens, reopened its doors after safety concerns relating to the age of the structure forced its closure. Parks Victoria has completed a range of upgrades throughout the site, including improvements to accessibility, lighting and fire safety measures.
Initial access will be restricted to the ground floor as Parks Victoria continued to review further repair and funding options for the mansion. “We commit to keeping the community informed of our progress on these additional, essential works,” Parks Victoria said in a statement.
Thanks to a new community license agreement between Friends of Coolart and Parks Victoria, volunteers were delighted to share parts of the homestead with the public following its grand reopening on 20 September.
Friends of Coolart president Julie Ebbott said it represented an “important step in reconnecting the community with this remarkable property”. “The potential for Coolart to inspire, inform, and celebrate the history of this special place is enormous,” she said.
She also noted the grand ground floor rooms had been “beautifully restyled to reflect different eras of residency, offering visitors the chance to step back in time and imagine life in such an elegant home”.
“This move is designed to significantly enhance the visitor experience, providing deeper insights into the homestead’s historical significance and the broader Coolart property.”
In 2019, furniture and old wares donated by the owners of the heritage-listed Landene, in St Kilda Rd, were auctioned, raising $8000 towards the restoration work at Coolart Homestead. Parks Victoria district manager Georgia Kerr said the new agreement with Friends of Coolart was finalised in September.
“This agreement empowers the Friends of Coolart to reopen the mansion to the public, host community tours and events, and share the site’s rich historical significance. It also formalises and enhances access for this passionate and dedicated group of volunteers,” she said. “This partnership plays a vital role in bringing the site back to life for the community, as efforts to progress essential and long-term building repairs continue.”
Friends of Coolart will use the homestead for events to support the group’s mission to protect, preserve, and promote the site’s environmental and historical assets. The ground floor will also be opened for special events including Western Port Writes, Somers Art Fair, and the Friends Annual Community Picnic.
“By ensuring that the site remains open and accessible, the Friends of Coolart aims to continue highlighting the area’s cultural and environmental value while creating new opportunities for philanthropic investment and community engagement,” Ebbott said.
One upcoming event is a Bird’s Eye View art show as part of the inaugural Bird Festival from 22-23 November. The homestead will be open to the public every Wednesday and Saturday 11am to 3pm.
First published in the Mornington News – 23 September 2025