Police Point Shire Park

The former quarantine boundary at Police Point is now marked with post and rail fencing. The ‘calling ground’—a forty-foot divide over which those in quarantine could shout their hopes and frustrations to friends and relatives on the “clean” side—is brought to life with carefully placed sculptural elements and discreet signage. By the early 2010s, much of this history was little known or invisible in the landscape.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Council set out to restore heritage features and create an engaging visitor experience that brought the social history of quarantine to life while balancing conservation needs, site access, and community use. Works included the restoration of early cottages and gardens, a new car park and information shelter, path improvements and viewpoints, and a walking route through the surrounding Moonah woodland. Ongoing projects include the restoration of the former Quarantine Station’s Superintendent Cottage as a community facility, alongside artistic events linked to an artist-in-residence program.

Context (now GML Heritage) supported the Council from 2012, beginning with a Conservation Management Plan, followed by a landscape masterplan and heritage impact statements to guide conservation and restoration. This work culminated in the planning and delivery of interpretive elements, including sculptural installations and discreet signage marking the quarantine boundary and evoking the calling ground.

Completed in 2016, the project successfully integrated conservation, access, and interpretation, transforming Police Point into a vibrant cultural and community hub. It was recognised in the Mornington Peninsula Heritage Awards 2016 for Excellence in Interpretive Signage.