VICTORIAN NEWS - National Trust of Australia

Update on ComoHouse & GardenTasmaRejuvenationComo House & GardenFollowing a period of publicconsultation, the Trust isapplying for a new permitto improve facilities andaccessibility at Como House& Garden.Current permit conditions severely restrictcommunity accessibility and the Trust mustfind new ways to get people back to Como.The permit application will no longerinclude a new pavillion but it will focus onimprovements to the cafe area and includework on car access from Williams Road.No significant trees will be affected by theproposal.Como is now operating a bookings-basedmodel open to group tours and privatefunctions. Public events will also continueto be staged.The Trust looks forward to an outcome thatcan enable the community to enjoy Comowell into the future.Members may have seensome changes at the TasmaTerrace buildings recently.As well as a new Trust shop and galleryspace, our Commune Café is undernew management. It will soon includemurals celebrating the history of Tasmaincluding the Trust’s role in saving it inthe 1970s.The restoration of Terrace 2 is nowunderway – as part of this work theVictorian interior is being restored andpresented with items from our collectionto provide the public with a truly uniqueexperience of Melbourne in the 1880s.Showcasing the TrustThe Trust’s presence at theMelbourne International Flower& Garden Show has grown inthe past three years from atrestle table to a fully fitted outmarquee this year.The event gave us a fantastic opportunityto showcase our beautiful gardens andproperties.Many thanks to the hard work of our staffand volunteers and we also thank ourmembers who came along and said hello.Our heritage plants are available to buyat the expanded Rippon Lea nursery.Staff, visitors and volunteers at the marqueeMAY 2012 3