By JESSE GRAHAM
AFTER six years of closed gates, Gulf Station is back!
The historic homestead, based on the Melba Highway just out of Yarra Glen, re-opened to the public on 26 December 2013 after more than half a decade of silence.
Gulf Station co-ordinator Jeff Kendauge said that parts of the homestead needed major restoration work to keep the tourist attraction going.
He said that the homestead is in ship-shape now and that the staff even created a maize maze for visitors to traverse on their visits, with a whodunit mystery for children to solve.
There are two mazes – a children’s maze, in the shape of a draught horse’s head, and an adult maze, which is made into the shape of a tractor.
The maze totals 4.75 acres, making it the largest maize maze in Australia, and the corn will eventually grow to be about 2.5 metres tall.
Mr Kendauge said that, even through 40 degree weather, the maze will stay strong, due to drought-resistant plants.
“We can handle heat, we can handle 40 degrees, we can handle no rain,” he said.
He said another new attraction for younger visitors is a water slide, which runs down one of the hills at Gulf Station, and that there are animals on site to visit.
“The thing with Gulf Station is that it’s a working pioneer farm,” he said.
“Half the people through the gates, the first thing out of their mouth is ‘where are the animals?’.”
Mr Kendauge said there are currently Merino sheep at the homestead and that the management is looking into getting small cattle, miniature horses and even a goose-house.
But, ultimately, he said that the thing that really brings visitors to the homestead is its place in the history of Yarra Glen.
Gulf Station opened in the 1840s, as part of a 25,000 acre farm called The Gulf and Yarra Glen’s historic Bell family ran the homestead for years.
The area is now owned by the National Trust of Australia.
Gulf Station is open throughout January, the Easter school holidays and every weekend between from 10am-4pm.
For more information, visit www.gulfstation.com.au or call 9656 9804.
