Mornington Peninsula invites you to take a peek

Continuing the highly successful Open Heritage: Behind Closed Doors events, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and the Mornington Peninsula will offer the public the chance to take a rare peek behind the closed doors of some of the regions historical properties on Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th April 2004.

The Open Heritage: Behind Closed Doors Program was developed to allow all people the chance to experience the architectural, cultural and historical gems that Victoria has to offer. Properties that have been selected to take part in the program are not usually open to the general public, meaning the community has a unique opportunity to visit and view properties and buildings of significance. The program will offer the following:

Saturday 3rd April 10am-4.30pm - Northern Peninsula:
Properties on show on the Northern Peninsula include: Wolfdene, a cottage intrinsically tied to the development of Mornington; Toorak College in Mount Eliza, an imposing school built in the Tudor style; Lintott Cottage, set on the cliff tops overlooking Port Phillip bay, the cottage is reputed as one of the oldest in the area; and Moondah, a grand residence built in 1888 in the Italian Renaissance style and comprising 42 rooms exhibiting the splendour of a by-gone era.

Sunday 4th April 10am-4.30pm - Southern Peninsula:
The Southern Peninsula program will offer: a rare view of the gardens of The Anchorage, built in 1873 as a holiday home, the property offers sweeping views of the bay from Sorrento; Bimblehurst, owned by the same family for 80 years, the Edwardian villa offers an historical insight into the development of the Rye beach front at the turn of the century; Peppers Delgany, currently a luxury hotel and soon to be converted into private apartments, the mansion has significance as one of the most impressive examples of a 20th Century mansion; Halfway Cottage, built as a wedding present for its first owners in 1860, the cottage retains the charm and character of historical Sorrento.

Focus Tours offered include:

Old Quarantine Station at Point Nepean, Portsea (Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th April)

Tours of historic Mornington (Saturday 3rd April)

A Stroll through historic Sorrento (Saturday 3rd April)

Bathing Boxes by the Bay in Dromana (Sunday 4th April)

Georgina Stayches, Events Coordinator, National Trust explains, "Open Heritage: Behind Closed Doors really is a fabulous opportunity to explore and discover the wonderful and colourful history of the Mornington Peninsula. The National Trust works hard to bring our history and heritage alive for children and adults alike and we'd encourage the community to make the most of this chance to visit rarely opened properties and buildings."

Tickets to each individual property can be pre-purchased or purchased on the day at each property - $10.00pp ($7.00 National Trust members) or a Weekend Pass, which enables access to all eight properties, is $50.00 ($35 National Trust members).

Pre-bookings are required for all Focus Tours. Tickets cost $10.00pp ($7.00 National Trust members) per tour. Tours of the Old Quarantine Station are $15.00pp ($10.00 National Trust members).

To make bookings and for more information about Open Heritage: Behind Closed Doors visit: www.nattrust.com.au, call: (03) 9656 9800 or email: events@nattrust.com.au