Port Homes With History
The Age
Wednesday January 12, 1994
IT ISN'T just the name, Port Fairy, that conjures up thoughts of magic, it's the town itself. Perhaps it's the echoes of Ireland in the low-roofed, stone whaler's houses, or the sheltered harbor down behind the dunes and the boats at anchor.
In the neatly laid out early colonial town, the feeling of other times and other places is even stronger. The grand public buildings and imposing church and churchyard, together with the clustered streets, look like a set for a film or television series.
Artists, writers, musicians, retired professors, successful professionals, executives, former farmers, fishermen, craftsmen and tradespeople join forces to form a friendly community determined to keep Port Fairy's beauty and unspoiled atmosphere.
As Mr Garry Lockett, the director of Garry Lockett & Co., says: ``We don't want Port Fairy to be a theme park, looking like an airbrushed photograph. The historic aspect is the strongest pull here, not the coastal position, and the local council is strongly in favor of preserving the historic areas, Moyne River and harbor and controlling development to ensure it is in keeping with the character of the town."
One of the first Victorian settlements was on Griffiths Island in the 1850s, when the whalers and sealers arrived. Now there is only a lighthouse and a colony of mutton birds.
Mr Lockett says 70 per cent of the buyers looking for property in Port Fairy come from Melbourne, Adelaide or Sydney. Ten years ago, Western District people were more likely to own the houses.
There is such a steady demand for commercial property in the town that there is not one shop for sale at the moment. Mr Lockett says May is the busiest month for house sales following the annual folk festival in February, which attracts a crowd of up to 20,000 people.
With two kilometres of freehold land with direct access to the beach, Port Fairy has some of the most expensive sea-front blocks in the state, costing between $150,000 and $300,000 for those overlooking East beach, a safe family beach.
On the River Moyne side of East beach, overlooking the harbor and across moored boats to the town, blocks cost between $200,000 and $250,000.
There are several picturesque restaurants and bed and breakfast establishments, of which one, the Merrijig Inn, a bistro, bed and breakfast accommodation and boutique bar is for private sale for $550,000 through Garry Lockett (055 682 458).
South beach is a surf beach and the houses are more modern. Some are built on the beach and there are cycling and walking tracks and sporting facilities close by.
Garry Lockett & Co will also be auctioning two cottages: 131 Griffiths Street, Port Fairy was built in the late 1850s and Mr Lockett believes it is one of the best renovated stone whalers' cottages available. It only has one bedroom, but there is plenty of room to extend. It is to be auctioned on Saturday 5 February at noon.
The contents will also be auctioned. The house is expected to fetch more than $140,000 and for more details, call the agency.
The second cottage is a weatherboard fisherman's shack at 222 Grffiths Street, one block back from the beach as you come into Port Fairy, but with an easement guaranteeing direct access to the beach. This will be put under the hammer on Saturday 22 January at noon. It has three good-sized bedrooms, a very neat kitchen and bathroom, and an open fireplace in the large living room. There is a Rheem hot-water service and the block is large enough for a dual occupancy development. This property has an expected sale price of more than $100,000 according to the auctioneers Garry Lockett & Co.
© 1994 The Age