Unique Opportunities at Historic Bella Vista Farm Park
Bella Vista Farm Park - The Sydney Hills' historic farm at Elizabeth Macarthur Drive and Norwest Boulevarde, Bella Vista - has been given a new lease on life with the exterior of the homestead, outbuildings and grounds being restored to their former glory.
The farm's surrounding parklands are now open for the community to enjoy with the addition of barbecue and picnic facilities within the grounds surrounding the homestead. People can picnic under the historic Bunya Pines, discover the homestead's history through the interpretive signage and soak up Bella Vista Farm Park's wonderful heritage atmosphere.
Bella's story
Bella Vista Farm was one of the original homesteads along Old Windsor Road and has had many uses during its life as a working farm - including beef and dairy cattle farming, citrus orchards and extensive kitchen gardens.
The farm covers approximately 20 hectares and contains farmlands, remnant woodland, farm sheds, the homestead and gardens - and boasts panoramic views of the region. It is considered to have heritage significance due to its historic role in commercial citrus growing, its example as an intact rural landscape on the Cumberland Plain, the presence of Cumberland Woodland and the use of Bunya Pines dating from the 19th Century.
Perhaps the farm's most famous inhabitants were John and Elizabeth Macarthur who ran sheep at Bella Vista Farm Park during the early 1800s before moving to Camden.
Restoration and skills funding
This year Council received $520,000 from the Federal Government's Regional and Local Community Infrastructure grant funding, and works commenced in April to restore the homestead and outbuildings, provide new picnic shelters and a barbecue and reconstruct the paths to the front garden.
The Friends of Bella Vista Farm Park Inc obtained $25,000 from the NSW Heritage Branch to restore covers to the historic wells and provide safety fencing, and also contributed $10,000 from open days toward the kitchen garden fencing.
Council also obtained grant funding of $50,000 from NSW Heritage Branch to provide seed funding for a trade skills program that is a joint initiative between the Master Builders Association, National Trust of Australia (NSW), Friends of Bella Vista Farm and The Hills Shire Council - teaching traditional trade skills to young apprentices.
Your unique business opportunity
Council is currently considering potential business activities for the site that could create a cash flow to help with the operation of Bella Vista Farm Park. Council is welcoming proposals from the commercial private sector and any proposed business activities should complement and enhance people's experience of this significant heritage site.
Council considers this an outstanding opportunity for development of a commercial business in one of the fastest growing areas of Sydney - and will consider submissions as part of a broader heritage, visitor and business experience in keeping with Bella Vista Farm Park's Conservation Management Plan and Plan of Management of the site.
To obtain a full Request for Proposals package and for site visits, please contact Samantha Connor, Business and Community Coordinator - Major Venues on 9843 0236 or sconnor@thehills.nsw.gov.au
by The Hills Shire CouncilGWP Magazines® Business Resource & Lifestyle™ Issue #28, Jan-Feb 2010
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