1970s the walls were rendered with chicken wire and mud to protect the building against decay. The earlier walls can be seen in the circa 1870 picture which includes 5 of Thomas Bear's children. The Yan Yean Reservoir can be seen in the background. The castle was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 1998. As the castle is in a protected water catchment area for Melbourne, access is restricted. The Whittlesea Historical Society has at times arranged a guided visit to the site. These are infrequent and may occur once a year. The castle has 2 storeys however there is no flooring on the second storey. Tours of the site are still available. References External links Bears Castle, Whittlesea Information Centre Heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne Houses in Melbourne Buildings and structures completed in the 1840s 1840s establishments in Australia Buildings and structures in the City of Whittlesea