By Ethan Benedicto
Luck is in the air for a beloved local attraction, back on the market as development for the roughly 3-hectare plot of land remains uncertain.
Clover Cottage was a popular local attraction for its intricate infrastructure, historical contribution, beautiful gardens and iconic restaurant, aspects that the locale built a strong connection with through the establishment’s comfort and ambience.
However, a recent dispute between Parklea Berwick Pty Ltd and the City of Casey came to a head at VCAT on 28 March 2024, where ultimately no development plan was decided or approved for the 18 hectares between 42-80 Manuka Road after drafts from both parties failed to meet requirements for the Casey Planning Scheme, specifically DP204.
Considering a key part of the scheme that governs land use and development in Casey was not met, locals have expressed that while the waters are stagnant, retention of the cottage’s heritage is crucial, from its architecture to its aura as a significant historical piece of Berwick.
Volunteers and avid historical enthusiasts from the Berwick Mechanics Institute and Free Library said that they would love to see the place maintained, and wouldn’t be too upset either if it resumed operations.
Corinne Brewis, one of the library’s history gurus said that “since we’re an old library here in Berwick, with interest in the locale’s history, we’d be interested in [the cottage’s] retainment”.
“There is a heritage overlay cottage right next to it, and it would be good for that to be preserved.”
Previously in 2021, former minster for planning Richard Wynne approved Amendment C321 to the Casey Planning Scheme, which allowed parts of the land between 42-80 Manuka Road, Berwick, to be transformed into residential dwellings.
This meant that these plots of land which retain a substantial amount of local history, having been changed from a “farming zone” to a “neighbourhood residential zone”; this also meant an update to the heritage overlay of the site.
Keeping the place alive is important, with Judith Dwyer saying that “there’s nothing like that in Berwick now”.
“Well, we haven’t gone to the place in a while but I’d like to keep it as it is,” she said.
Returning to the most recent VCAT case between Parklea and Casey, an original draft of a development plan from Parklea was approved in May 2023 after being modified by the City of Casey.
Parklea then disputed these amendments, which included tree retention, drainage schemes, road layouts, bushfire management and other factors in the site’s development; they, once more, submitted their preferred version of the plan in October of that year.
Casey Council also submitted their own draft the following month in November, and ultimately, both Parklea’s and Casey’s revised drafts were overturned by VCAT.
Audrey Dodson, secretary of the Berwick Pakenham Historical Society, who was a frequent visitor of the cottage when it hummed with life said that she would like it to remain “as is”.
“I would like it to remain as it is, as a restaurant, as a place for people to enjoy meals and see the gardens, it would be a pity if it were cut up.
“I enjoyed the ambience of the place, it would be a pity to lose something like that because I don’t know of any such other in the area,” she said.
When asked as to why such great levels of care should be taken considering the place, her answer was simple, where she said “well it’s part of our past, isn’t it? We would like to preserve that.”
Since no development plan has been approved, both Parklea and Casey Council will need to undergo further revisions and negotiations before any residential development can proceed for that stretch of land.
As it stands, many criteria need to be met, with both parties needing to tackle strict environmental and heritage controls, which means time for those considering a hefty purchase of a historical relic.
