Ballara at 57-73 Glaneuse Rd, Point Lonsdale, was the coastal home of former Australian Prime Minister Alfred Deakin.
With Peter Farago
The Albanese government has been slammed as “unconscionable and despicable” after it withdrew $3m in funds to save a piece of national political history.
Just days before the auction of the home of Australia’s second prime minister Alfred Deakin in Point Lonsdale, staff for the Minister for Arts and Home Affairs, Tony Burke, are understood to have withdrawn the money after they offered to match a local effort to buy the home for posterity.
Parties aware of the government’s plans have indicated the seemingly promised $3m sum was withdrawn just days before the auction with a phone call one evening this week, leaving a group trying to save the estate, including artworks and books, from being sold off and potentially dispersed just days to find millions of dollars to fund the gap.
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They indicated that it was the second time the government had done so, having pulled out of an offer to buy the 1.69ha property entirely themselves in November last year.
Great grandson to Alfred Deakin, and businessman, Tom Harley had been leading a campaign to have the home put in public hands – including foregoing his own share of the multimillion-dollar residence.
When called yesterday Mr Harley confirmed the funds had been withdrawn and said the situation was “unconscionable and despicable”.
Tom Harley has hit out at the Albanese government after it reneged at the last minute on a deal to acquire the former Point Lonsdale home. Picture: Jason Edwards
He said he was still hoping to make a bid for the home, but his confidence in being able to protect it for future generations was now shaken.
“I’m very hopeful of a positive outcome, but by no means certain of it,” Mr Harley said.
“I think it’s unconscionable to promise and then reneg. I have no confidence that they know what they are doing and that gives me great concern.”
With his own Liberal ties well documented, he said it was clear the desire to preserve the home was above party politics – and that having it put in public hands had been supported by Steve Bracks, Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull, among others.
Ballara is the largest single property within the Bellarine Peninsula village of Point Lonsdale.
“This is a national interest story,” Mr Harley said.
“If it is sold and broken up, that’s it. The house is one thing, but all of the art works, and the books will all be dispersed. This is a one moment in time opportunity.”
Previously, Mr Harley said $4m had been raised in pledges from locals, family members, the Borough of Queenscliffe, philanthropic supporters.
Mr Harley said agreement has been secured with Deakin University to manage Ballara for the community.
The Museum of Australian Democracy had been tasked with giving advice to the government and representatives had recently visited the site.
Alfred Deakin’s house Ballara in Point Lonsdale Pattie and Alfred with their first grandchild Wilfred Brookes at Ballara. Picture: Supplied
The property was listed for sale after the public acquisition push missed a VCAT-set deadline before real estate agents were to be called in to sell it.
The Borough of Queenscliffe this week renewed a conditional offer of $300,000 toward the purchase of the property.
But there was not unanimous to support for Di Rule’s notice of motion, amid questions of how the trust would operate and on the amount the tiny council was putting on the table.
Geelong’s Deakin University was named after Australia’s second prime minister and a key figure in the federatio of Austrlaia.
Mrs Rule said she feared existing planning protections could be watered down in the future, leading to the 1.69ha property being subdivided.
The house was designed and built during Deakin’s second term as prime minister in 1907 and became an important retreat where he would read, write and develop political ideas.
It retains original furnishings, artworks, and photographs. His wife Pattie designed the native gardens and established the Point Lonsdale War Memorial on the property, which has since been passed down through descendants.
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