Nehill Brothers Living Heritage Reserve Comes Back Under Management of the Trust
Media Release
12 December 2013
The National Trust has today announced that it will be investing in locally based management, restoration and facilities improvement at its Nehill Brothers Living Heritage Reserve at South Purrumbeete starting in the New Year. The National Trust opened the reserve in October 2011 after investing over $100,000 in a new public reserve to showcase rare breeds. The National Trust currently welcomes over 40,000 school students per year and 400,000 visitors to its 36 Victorian properties.
After two years, the National Trust will not be renewing its agreement with the current commercial operators of the Trust’s Nehill Brothers Living Heritage Reserve at South Purrumbeete when it ends on 31st December.
Martin Purslow National Trust CEO said, “The Trust remains fully committed to Nehill Farm and our vision for a community based educational heritage reserve. Taking a more direct role in managing the site with our own locally based staff will allow the Trust to invest with confidence and improve the visitor experience as well as enabling essential restoration.”
The Trust has also committed to improve facilities and refocus the sites operations to a community education focus away from the primarily commercial pig focused operation which has become a dominant feature of the site under the current operator. The Trust’s investment will include the addition of new public toilets, the updating and restoration of animal enclosures and completion of the homestead rehabilitation to a habitable standard. The site will be closed for approximately three months to allow the work to take place.
The Trust currently employs a local site manager who will remain with the National Trust and will assist with the rehabilitation of the site and ensure continuity within the local community. In the New Year the National Trust will also be seeking to appoint an additional local member of staff based within the community to directly manage the sites development and deliver its education program.
Martin Purslow, CEO of the National Trust (Victoria) said. ‘with further investment we are confident that this decision to take more active control of our sites management linked to local employment and with a focus on local community stakeholders will ensure that Nehill Brothers Living Heritage Reserve will provide the community with another quality Trust amenity and visitor attraction and a strong educational resource.”
The site will be closed during the restoration work and is scheduled to re-open at Easter 2014.
For further information please contact the National Trust on 03 9656 9800.
