PM called upon to save well-heeled Point Lonsdale from becoming ‘like Rosebud’

The mayor of a tiny Bellarine Peninsula municipality says the coastal idyll of Point Lonsdale risks ending up “like Rosebud” if the historic manor estate of Australia’s second prime minister, Alfred Deakin, falls into the hands of developers.

A fight is on to save Ballara, the historic Point Lonsdale holiday manor of former Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, from developers. Picture: Mark Wilson

Point Lonsdale residents fear their coastal retreat will “end up like Rosebud” if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fails to intervene in a local planning dispute.

“Ballara” – the former holiday estate of Australia’s second prime minister Alfred Deakin – is tipped to be snapped up by property developers unless the PM steps in to back a plan for it to go to the community.

Set on 1.6 hectares in the heart of Point Lonsdale, the $8m historic homestead is being sold by Deakin’s family 120 years after the legendary PM built it.

Locals – backed by Malcolm Turnbull and Steve Bracks – are now pleading with Mr Albanese to put in $4m towards a community bid, with private donors and family members already having pledged more than $4m towards the plan.

Pattie and Alfred Deakin on the veranda of Ballara in 1907. Picture: Supplied

Pattie Deakin with Joseph Cook at Alfred Deakin's seaside homestead, Ballara, in Point Lonsdale. Picture: Supplied

The estate would be managed by the nearby Deakin University.

But the federal funds are required within weeks for the plan to go ahead with advice from a leading King’s Counsel warning the property is at risk of being subdivided into housing allotments if sold to developers, despite being heritage-listed.

Former prime minister Mr Turnbull, ex-Victorian premier Mr Bracks, former foreign minister Julie Bishop and Labor luminary Barry Jones are signatories to a letter urging the federal government to help fund the buyout.

Pattie and Alfred Deakin with their grandchild Wilfred Brookes at Ballara. Picture: Supplied

Alfred Deakin in the garden at Ballara with his grandson, Wilfred Brookes. Picture: Supplied

“Ballara is the lungs of the Borough of Queenscliffe – and once it’s gone we will never retrieve it,” the borough’s mayor Di Rule said.

“And it needs to be kept in its entirety because of the wonderful flora and fauna that is there.”

Ms Rule said local residents were wary of a state government edict requiring the building of 400 new homes in the Queenscliffe region.

“Ballara will be carved up and as one local resident said to me, ‘we will end up like Rosebud’.”

The location of former Australian Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin's, holiday estate Ballara in Point Lonsdale. Picture: Supplied

Locals want to preserve the unique flora and fauna on the Ballara manor estate. Picture: Mark Wilson

There are fears idyllic Point Lonsdale could become ‘like Rosebud’ if development proceeds. Picture: Travel Victoria

The Queenscliff mayor does not want her patch of paradise to end up like Rosebud (pictured).

A deal on the project must be struck by June 5.

Point Lonsdale falls within the tiny Borough of Queenscliffe municipality on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, and within the federal seat of Corangamite, held by Labor MP Libby Coker.

The sleepy main street of Point Lonsdale, which locals want to keep that way. Picture: Supplied

What AI thinks the average person from Point Lonsdale looks like. Picture: Supplied