ONE of Portland’s oldest and most historic properties could soon have much closer neighbours.

An application has been made to Glenelg Shire Council to subdivide 3.37ha on Daniel St into six residential lots – the block in question is home to the Maretimo homestead.

The heritage-listed 167-year-old homestead and associated buildings and gardens on about 2.8ha will remain in the hands of the current owners (who use it as their residence), while the plan is to subdivide off four lots of about 800 square metres each on the Noel St side and another larger lot to the north of those of about 2500 square metres.

That would see the four smaller lots in line with the rest of the estate, while the larger lot would allow for a house to be positioned around an existing shed.

The planning application says the original Maretimo Estate of 161 lots was created in the 1920s and “the current title of this (homestead) property was created in 1993 from 12 titles as a means to reduce the financial burden of the servicing fees generated by the numerous lots”.

“This proposal has been designed to create maximum space around the bluestone Maretimo building and out buildings and encompass the entire established gardens,” the application says.

“This proposal will greatly reduce the area of land to maintain allowing greater focus on the building and surrounds.

“The area proposed for the new lots does not contain any old or significant vegetation or structures relevant to the heritage listing.”

“This proposed plan of subdivision creates six residential lots with the purpose of creating a more manageable area around for the owner.

“This will allow the owners to focus time and funding on the maintenance of the large bluestone residence and immediate garden surrounds.”

The Maretimo homestead, a Georgian-style building with 22 rooms, was built for pastoralist John McLeod about 1854.

Robert Matheson bought it 20 years later and then sold it to Portland merchant Hugh Campbell in 1895.

Maretimo Estate was created in 1921 and the homestead block was all that remained.

It was sold to sisters Eleanor Dowling and Edith Smith who ran it as a summer guest house for many years.

The planning application says Maretimo is architecturally significant because of its colonial Georgian style, its U-plan layout, finely crafted interiors and was “considered to be uniquely Australian”.

The council won’t decide on the application before December 14.