Bellarine estate to undergo $50,000 facelift under plans with Geelong council

A boutique Bellarine winery and distillery will undergo a significant face lift to improve to boost its popularity. See the designs.

Bellarine Estate refurbishment. Picture: Madewell Studio

The Bellarine Estate is due to undergo a refurbishment to beef up its push to be a more family friendly venue leveraging the tourism market.

The $50,000 plans for the 9ha site, that need to be approved by the City of Greater Geelong council, show estate owner Peter Kenny and his family want to create an 100sq m alfresco dining area and improve the estate’s public entrance.

The site already contains a restaurant, a boutique distillery, and a winery which produces about 50,000 litres per year.

Peter and Liz Kenny with sons Julian and James at the Bellarine Estate. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“(These plans are) part of our diversification; to not always be reliant on the wine market,” Mr Kenny said.

“We’re in the tourism business realistically… and we’ve got to make sure we’ve got plenty of good attractions for tourists. We just need a bit more covered outdoor space.”

Mr Kenny said he had added kids games at the estate and changed its entire menu to be American BBQ themed to future appeal to families.

Bellarine Estate refurbishment. Picture: Madewell Studio

“We are trying to make it family friendly because some other wineries are not.”

Mr Kenny said trade at the estate was strong through summer but had dropped slightly recently due to the cooler weather and school holidays.

The planning application notes the project will build “upon an existing tourism establishment for the betterment of the customer experience”.

It also reads: “Growth of the tourism economy is expected across Geelong to 2030. While most of this tourism growth is directed to Central Geelong and other townships, there are opportunities to enhance the tourism industry in rural areas through complementary developments that are associated with the farming or rural use of the land.”

“Tourism development within the rural and coastal areas must be carefully managed and designed so that it does not compromise the landscape, non-urban character or existing agricultural activities that are part of the attraction of the area.”

Plans for a 20-tent glamping area on the estate have been approved by Geelong council with bookings to begin from November this year.

Refurbishment plans for the estate are available for public comment until July 25 via Geelong council’s website.

Originally published as Bellarine estate to undergo $50,000 facelift under plans with Geelong council