Frequently asked questions

What is the vision for the Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station?

The Point Nepean Research and Education Field Station will become an important research and meeting place for local and global communities, where researchers, Indigenous peoples, and the broader community will uphold Indigenous knowledge and environmental sciences by collaborating, educating, researching, protecting and experiencing the natural and cultural qualities of this unique intersection of land and ocean. 

Where will the Field Station be located?

The Field Station site is located in the Point Nepean National Park, at the eastern edge of the Quarantine Station Precinct, adjacent to the former First and Second Hospitals, the First-class dining hall, the medical superintendent’s quarters, and the cadets’ accommodation dormitories from the Station’s time as a military facility.

The area includes Badcoe Hall, a culturally significant existing building within the Quarantine Station precinct that will be retained and the internal facilities sympathetically adapted and used as part of the Field Station.

Who is leading the project?

The University of Melbourne and Monash University (the partnership/universities).

How is the project funded?

The Commonwealth Government has committed $17 million to support the $27 million development, through the Environmental Education Centres Program, with Monash University and the University of Melbourne equally contributing the remaining $10 million.

What project milestones have occurred to date?

When will the Field Station be complete?

Construction will commence in 2025 and the Field Station is expected to be operational in 2027.

 Design and uses

  • The universities are committed to respecting the cultural and historical, environmental and social fabric of the site through considered design that is sensitive to the landscape and environment.   

    The Field Station will encompass:  

    • The adaptive re-use of the existing Badcoe Hall, transforming it into a research and teaching facility. The brick and stone clad concrete facade and overall structure of the building will be retained and reinforced, with the internal facilities sympathetically adapted, complete with laboratories and collaborative spaces. 

    • A new, purpose-built short-stay university accommodation building for visiting researchers and student field trips, to be located between Badcoe Hall and Jackson Road. The building will have capacity for overnight accommodation for 50 people. 

    • Landscaping around the site, seamlessly integrating the new building into the existing surrounds through access paths, bicycle and car parking, seating, outdoor lighting and plantings. 

  • The refurbished Badcoe Hall will contain spaces designed for teaching, learning and events for the universities, and as an event space that can facilitate teaching activities by the local community. The space will be managed through a centralised booking system that will be developed closer to completion.  

    The refurbished Badcoe Hall will contain: 

    • Shared social spaces and amenities 

    • Functions area with capacity for events of up to 100 people 

    • Catering kitchen 

    • Meeting rooms and breakout spaces* 

    • Teaching laboratory with capacity for 50 people* 

    • Chemistry laboratory with capacity for 8 people* 

    • Equipment storage* 

    • Wash area* 

    • Laboratory store* 

    The accommodation in the new building is reserved for users associated with the Field Station such as student groups, teaching staff, researchers and postgraduates. It is not for tourist or public accommodation. Designed to accommodate 50 people, the building will include bedrooms, shared bathroom amenities and breakout areas.  

    * Notes spaces restricted to University use only 

  • The Field Station is one of several initiatives highlighted in the Parks Victoria Point Nepean Master Plan (2017) aspirations, including the provision of a new building for education and research within the National Park.  

    The Field Station utilises the existing Badcoe Hall building in addition to the new build. After extensive research and consideration, it was concluded that a new build provides the best outcome given the availability, heritage constraints and accessibility requirements of other buildings at the Quarantine Station.  

    The new accommodation building has been carefully designed to have minimal visual impact on the surrounding site, reflecting the aesthetic and values of place. The Field Station will activate this part of the precinct, encouraging interaction and engagement with this section of the former Quarantine Station. 

  • Disability access and inclusivity are key considerations in the Field Station’s design and operations. The refurbishment of Badcoe Hall includes the installation of a lift for access, significantly improving the accessibility of the existing build. The accommodation building will also contain a lift, and considerable effort has been made to incorporate accessible pathways between the buildings and across the site. 

  • The project has included engaging with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation to commission a Cultural Values Assessment, that has been drawn upon by the architectural and landscape designers. Initial Indigenous design elements include: 

    • Drawing inspiration from local Indigenous stories and gathering spaces evidenced through the presence of middens, the landscape design seeks to balance built form and bushfire overlays with cultural connections.

    • The native planting proposed has been guided by the Registered Aboriginal Party and has Cultural uses to local Indigenous communities. 

    While we are in the pre-construction stages, we look forward to new opportunities to work together with all Indigenous knowledge holders. 

  • Sustainability has been embedded in the design by choosing materials appropriate to the site and context, including consideration of the maintenance requirements in a coastal environment. No natural gas is being used at the Field Station and sustainable operations have also been considered but will be further developed as the project progresses. 

    Sustainability considerations include: 

    • Passive design to support low-energy, high-comfort and healthy spaces 

    • Embodied carbon to reduce whole of life emissions 

    • All-electric and renewable ready energy sources to support carbon neutral operations 

    • Operational waste management to support diversion from landfill 

    • Development of a Sustainable Action Plan that will provide a roadmap for integrating and delivering sustainability outcomes in the project 

 Surrounding site

  • The Field Station has a very limited footprint within the site. All other buildings onsite are managed by Parks Victoria and are therefore not within the project’s scope. However, archaeological and cultural interaction is a key component of the project’s vision, including uncovering and telling the stories of this significant site and history. Reconstructing past climate, coastal and land stories through research is an exciting prospect for future Field Station research.  

  • The Field Station’s operations are not dependent on a jetty or moorings off the Quarantine Station. As Parks Victoria manages Victorian piers and boat launches, the Field Station will work with them on the practicalities of where boats can be launched for research.  The Field Station project does not include installation of a jetty or moorings. 

  • The project has and will continue to undertake site investigations to ensure the design of the Field Station will be sympathetic to its surroundings and have the least possible impact to historic and cultural significance, and to marine and terrestrial life.    

    The Field Station will need to adhere to regulatory requirements that stipulate ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the Field Station’s impact. Ongoing monitoring of the coast, climate and marine life in the area, as well as the impacts of the Field Station activity, are core to the Field Station’s vision and will be embedded into operations. 

  • The Field Station will align with the Point Nepean National Park Master Plan, released by Parks Victoria in 2017.      

    The Master Plan highlighted the importance of the site for research and education and the proposed facility is just one aspect of the activity proposed within the park.      

    To find out more, visit the Parks Victoria website to access the Master Plan. 

 Research

  • The focus areas for research will be subject to future workstreams and teaching and learning needs. The Field Station provides a platform for a flexible and varied range of research areas, which may include:    

    • Developing sustainable and adaptive methods to protect the coast, given the impacts of climate change and coastal urbanisation, through applying more nature-based solutions.    

    • Developing best practice systems for the restoration and recovery of coastal terrestrial systems as an area of focus and providing opportunities to secure threatened flora and fauna.    

    • Research focused on improving our understanding of the variability and drivers of coastal erosion leading to better informing planning decisions in relation to climate change.  

    A key opportunity for the Field Station is to realise the potential of the site’s unique marine and coastal environment to support education and research. Core activities will include a convening space for research and teaching, a community and cultural engagement program such as activation programs that target school groups, and the field study base for the existing university research topics.  

    Specific topics relevant to this site include:    

    • Archaeological,  paleoarchaeological  and  paleogeographical  investigation  

    • Coastal processes and erosion    

    • Eco-engineering and restoration of marine and coastal habitats    

    • Restoration and conservation management of terrestrial systems   

    • Data collection, data analysis, complex systems modelling 

  • Outreach will be important to the Field Station operating model. It is anticipated that there will be opportunities for the community to have access to researchers and students as they learn and work on site. Opportunities for community events and other outreach activities will be communicated to the local community as they arise. 

  • A core pillar of the Field Station vision is to strengthen Australia's position as a global research leader in coastal and climate research. The facility’s design will allow it to host academic symposiums and conferences on climate research and coastal and marine environments, attracting experts in a variety of disciplines from around the world. This will not only benefit the universities, but the local community through activation of local businesses and services.

  • The Field Station will facilitate the study of locally sourced marine samples with laboratories, access to the bay and diving gear storage on-site, without the need for permanent live-storage facilities. Specific laboratory layout and research facilities will be finalised as part of detailed design.  

  • The documentation produced in developing a project of this nature is varied and extensive. If you are interested in a particular element of the project, please reach out to the team at info@pointnepeanfieldstation.org.au.

  • While we are currently still in development, the project team is looking for potential Field Station users to inform design. Contact our project team at info@pointnepeanfieldstation.org.au. 

 Community

  • As a teaching, learning and research Field Station, studies to monitor the coast, climate and marine life in the area are core to the Field Station’s vision. Protecting the distinct and unique place that is the Mornington Peninsula is a driving motivation for the universities. 

    The universities have already worked on research projects in the surrounding area, including investigating the cause of the erosion in Port Phillip Bay and collaborating with the Deakin University Queenscliff Marine Science Centre on various projects. The intention is to do the same around the coastal regions of Point Nepean and surrounds.   

    Archaeological and cultural interaction is also a key component of the project’s vision, including uncovering and telling the stories of this significant site and history. Reconstructing past climate, coastal and land stories through research and collaboration with local communities is an exciting prospect for future Field Station research. 

  • Being located in the National Park, public access will not be limited around the site. General access to Badcoe Hall and the new accommodation building will be restricted to the universities. There will be opportunities for community engagement activities utilising the Field Station, the details of which will be finalised closer to completion.  

  • The best way for the community to engage and connect with the Field Station will be considered as part of the future operational planning of the facility.  

    School excursions, field trips, local briefings and student-led tours are just some examples of how this could take place. With students and researchers working at the Field Station for most of the year, there will be ongoing opportunities for this cohort to contribute to school and community-led activities on site. 

  • Active, consistent and authentic stakeholder engagement is a key project principle.   

    To deliver on this principle, key communication channels have been established through which community members and key stakeholders have opportunities to engage with, inform and learn about the project including: 

    • local media enquiries,  

    If you are interested in learning more about the project, sign up to our mailing list for opportunities to engage with the project.  

  • The following engagement activities have occurred to date: 

    • Community briefing webinar 

    • University briefing webinar 

    • Traditional Owner group engagement 

  • While we are in the design stage, the project team is looking for potential Field Station users to inform potential use cases and future partnerships. Contact our project team at info@pointnepeanfieldstation.org.au with your enquiry and sign up to our mailing list for project updates. 

 Cultural and historical significance

  • The universities are committed to highlighting the importance of the site’s First Nation’s heritage, values, and culture; and respecting and celebrating Traditional Owners’ knowledge of Country and environmental and cultural heritage.     

    The importance of the site for research, education, engagement and cultural uses, as well as for activities drawing connections to the site's colonial and settler history are core to the project planning and vision.  

    A cultural values assessment and heritage management plan have been undertaken, including arborist consultation and geotechnical investigation. The project team will continue to engage with the cultural and historical significance of the site with care and respect, consulting the relevant groups and authorities when required. 

  • The project is very conscious of the importance of the land in and around the Quarantine Station to Traditional Owners and Indigenous communities around the area. The project has been guided by the Registered Aboriginal Party, undertaking a cultural values assessment to understand the ways we can best be guided by local Indigenous communities both in the Field Station’s design and continued operations. 

    Currently, Badcoe Hall functions as a community facility and the intention is to provide the opportunity for this to continue into the future. We are working with Traditional Owner groups to understand what these opportunities would look like, from a space for social gatherings and events, to opportunities for ongoing research partnerships with Indigenous researchers and community.  

    While we are currently in early project stages, we look forward to new opportunities to work together with all Indigenous knowledge holders throughout development and beyond. 

 Operations

  • The facility will be jointly operated by the universities. Details of facility management are currently being discussed and ideated, with consultation from academic users, community and Traditional Owner groups to determine the best operational management plan. 

  • While we are only at the pre-construction stages, there is significant work being done to understand potential use cases for the Field Station facilities to ensure it is optimised for users once operational.  

    Part of this includes estimations and discussions around ongoing operations costs, informed by feedback from user groups such as researchers, community groups and Traditional Owners. More information will be available closer to operational readiness. 

  • The Field Station will be operated and funded by the universities as part of regular funding supplied to both university’s research programs and campus operations.

  • The Field Station welcomes expressions of interest from all parties to enquire about future uses and collaborations. Please contact info@pointnepeanfieldstation.org.au for specific enquiries and sign up to our mailing list for project updates. 

 How can I get involved?