Tuesday, 5 May 2026

 Paul MERCURIO (Hastings) (19:22): (1648) My adjournment matter tonight is for the Minister for Environment, and the action I seek is for the minister to come down to my electorate and tour the very special and unique Coolart Homestead. The Coolart Homestead is a beautiful example of late Victorian architecture dating from 1895. The surrounding formal gardens and lawns feature native and exotic plants, perfect for a stroll, a picnic or a wedding. The late Tom Luxton purchased Coolart in 1937 and immediately had the property declared a sanctuary for native wildlife. In 1938 the then curator of the Footscray Gardens David Matthews redesigned the garden for Coolart. This is the design enjoyed by visitors at Coolart today. The farmyard outbuildings are even older than the homestead, originating from the early days of settlement when Coolart was farming and grazing land. One of Coolart’s oldest buildings is the barracks built in the 1860s. This building, along with the buttery, meat house and part of the stables, was built of handmade bricks. Coolart was bought by the Victorian government in 1977 in recognition of its historic buildings and significant wetlands. Over the years there have been improvements and renovations to the homestead, which continue to this day.

Coolart is also a renowned wetlands for keen birdwatchers and nature lovers. Each year nomadic and migrating birds pass through Coolart, stopping at its waterways and woodlands to breed and rest. Over 125 species of birds visit Coolart or are residents, and there is a perfect place to observe them in the observatory, which is situated below the main homestead and overlooks the wetlands. It offers an amazing viewing position in all weather. I know the Friends of Coolart would love to share this magnificent homestead with the minister, and I look forward to the minister’s visit.