A major upgrade could see the historic heritage property Saumarez Homestead triple its annual number of visitors.
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Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall called on the NSW Government to fund the upgrade of the iconic property on Monday.
Mr Marshall met with property manager Les Davis to discuss the plans to open up the building to a wider audience.
He said the state government should provide around $1.7 million for the project, with Armidale Regional Council already committing $730,000.
“This is the jewel in the crown of the National Trust properties right around the nation because it is unique,” Mr Marshall said.
“This homestead is really the birth place of Armidale without the White family and Saumarez Homestead, the city might never have been founded.
“We can increase the visitors to this property by about 16,000 people a year and by doing that, it will increase Armidale’s visitation by about 6 per cent.”
The project involves re-purposing and restoring the homestead’s heritage listed farm to include guest accommodation onsite.
There is a funding application currently being assessed by the state government under the Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund.
Property manager Les Davis said the upgrade would ensure the sustainability of the property.
“The significance of Saumarez Homestead goes back, before Armidale, to the 1830s when the first settlers got here,” Mr Davis said.
“We will go from a dedicated 1.8 staff equivalent to eight to 10 full time equivalents which will help keep it going.”
