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Port Fairy Properties
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Mills Cottage
One of Victoria's oldest homes, Mills Cottage is a reminder of maritime history and life in Port Fairy, a fishing village on the Shipwreck Coast
Named after the Mills family, who occupied or owned the cottage from 1842 – 1909, the house remains considerably intact including over fifty different wallpapers layered throughout its rooms. The earliest surviving part of Mills Cottage dates to 1843, making it one of Victoria’s oldest homes.
John and his brother Charles Fredrick Mills had been sealers and whalers, but settled in Port Fairy, where John became a maritime trader and Harbour Master and Charles a farmer. From the mid 1850s-1871 Captain John Mills was the Port Fairy Harbour Master, an important role in such a bustling port.
Mills Cottage is located at 40 Gipps Street, Port Fairy.
Mott’s Cottage
Mott’s Cottage is a charming vernacular cottage that reflects the lives of people who worked in the port village.
Named after Sarah Jane Mott who lived in the cottage for 26 years in the early 20th century, her family were fishermen and boatmen in the township.
Constructed in three stages, the oldest section dates from 1845 or earlier.
Unusually for a humble seaman’s cottage it acquired a second story when Mrs Jane Chastel leased the property in the 1850s. It was then occupied by local stonemason John Hooper who ran a boarding house with his daughter Caroline in the late nineteenth century.
Mott's Cottage is located at 5 Sackville Street, Port Fairy |
Opportunities Available
General Interest Registration
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Volunteering with the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference while connecting with our rich heritage. Whether you’re passionate about history, nature, or community, there’s a role for you. From guiding visitors through iconic properties to supporting events, being involved in our gardens and landscape spaces, conservation projects, or assisting with administration, you’ll play a vital part in preserving and celebrating our cultural legacy. Join our vibrant community of volunteers and help us protect the stories of the past for future generations. If there is not a current Volunteer opportunity available that interests please apply and our Staff will contact you to discuss what opportunity best suits you Knowledge and Skills required :
Volunteer Benefits include
Training and skill development in:
You will be one of a team of experienced volunteers. The National Trust is a not for profit organisation that aims to conserve Australia’s history and heritage for present and future generations. As part of the application process, we will ask you to agree to register as a National Trust Volunteer. Volunteers are may be required to have a current Working with Children’s Card (free for volunteers) and police check which you can apply for as part of the application process. Thank you for considering volunteering with us. We believe in inclusiveness, diversity, and equality and are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are a reflection of that. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply to our vacancies. We promote diversity and practice equity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply. |
Rippon Lea Estate
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Rippon Lea is a large 19th century mansion surrounded by 7 hectares of Victorian pleasure gardens. It is listed on the National Heritage Register as one of the finest examples of original suburban estate in Australia. The house was completed in 1868. It was built for Frederick Sargood. Sargood made his money selling soft-goods on the goldfields. The house is named after his mother’s maiden-name, Rippon. Lea is an English word for meadow. The property was a large, self-sufficient farm, about twice the size it is now. The mansion was originally 15 rooms; it currently has 33 rooms. Sargood moved in with his first wife, Marian, and their 9 surviving children. There were 7 maids, a butler, 7 gardeners, a coachman and a groom. Sargood was a typical man of the Victorian Age – visionary and practical. This resulted in an elaborate underground watering system and the house having its own electricity supply. Unusually for its time, the house had internal toilets. Sargood was a keen gardener who was particularly interested in orchids and ferns. A large number of plants were imported. The garden is complex and covers almost 14 acres, which includes a large lake, extensive shrubberies and flower gardens, an orchard of historically significant fruit varieties, a fernery, rose gardens and many other features of historical, landscape and architectural interest, all forming the setting for the polychrome brick mansion completed in 1868. Rippon Lea Estate is located at 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick |
Opportunities Available
Hidden Heritage Digital Project needs Copywriters and UX enthusiasts,
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We’re seeking creative volunteers to help bring Rippon Lea’s "Hidden Heritage" stories to life! If you have copywriting skills, experience with Canva, and a flair for storytelling, we need your help to craft engaging content that links images and video to make stories of the past resonate with modern audiences. Join us in celebrating Rippon Lea’s untold stories and shaping a unique digital experience. Flexible commitment, rewarding impact! Volunteer activities could include:
Knowledge and Skills required :
Volunteer Benefits include
Training and skill development in:
You will be one of a team of experienced volunteers. As part of the application process, we will ask you to agree to register as a National Trust Volunteer. If this sounds like you (or someone you know), please fill in application form or share this opportunity with your networks. Thank you for considering volunteering with us. We believe in inclusiveness, diversity, and equality and are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are a reflection of that. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply to our vacancies. We promote diversity and practice equity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply. |
