What makes Criss Canning and David Glenn’s $2.7m Ascot estate and world-famous garden a once-in-a-lifetime buy

Acclaimed artist Criss Canning and garden designer David Glenn are selling their Victorian estate and iconic nursery that shaped their life’s work. SEE INSIDE

Burnside, the landmark Ascot estate of artist Criss Canning and garden designer David Glenn, is on the market with a $2.5m –$2.7m price guide.

One of Australia’s most-celebrated still life artists, Criss Canning, and her husband, acclaimed garden designer David Glenn, have listed their cherished country estate and world-renowned nursery in Victoria’s central west.

The creative couple are asking $2.5m –$2.7m for their five-bedroom bluestone homestead Burnside, set on just under 13ha at 395 Lesters Rd, Ascot — about 20 minutes from Ballarat and within easy reach of Victoria’s spa country.

Built in the 1800s by early settlers, the historic home is surrounded by the acclaimed Lambley Nursery, established by Mr Glenn and now considered one of Australia’s finest examples of dry-climate garden design.

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Ms Canning, whose paintings hang in major national institutions including the National Gallery of Victoria, said the couple had originally planned to sell in 2023 but paused their campaign following a sudden health scare.

“It’s been a huge decision to leave,” Ms Canning said.

Burnside and Lambley Nursery have been featured on Better Homes and Gardens, Gardening Australia and Burke’s Backyard.

The warm study has an open fireplace and views over the surrounding gardens.

“But after David’s heart attack, it felt like time — time for him to retire, slow down, maybe even go fishing.”

While Mr Glenn is stepping back from daily work in the garden, Ms Canning said she would continue painting and had already begun working in her new Ballarat studio.

The couple purchased Burnside 36 years ago when it was still open farmland.

The Lambley Garden is one of Australia’s best-known dry-climate gardens, attracting visitors from around the world.

The main dining space is known as the “long room”, capturing light from three directions and is a favourite spot for guests.

Over the decades, they transformed the landscape into a breathtaking and internationally admired garden estate, with wide perennial borders, drought-tolerant displays, and sweeping views.

“My palette changed dramatically when we moved here from the Dandenongs — the skies opened up, and the landscape really shaped the way I paint,” Ms Canning said.

The estate has been featured in Gardens of the World, Better Homes and Gardens, Gardening Australia, Burke’s Backyard, and UK Gardens Illustrated, as well as in Ms Canning’s award-winning book The Paintings of Criss Canning: The House and Garden at Lambley.

This space is perfect for winter evenings or quiet reading and reflects the timeless character of the 1800s homestead.

The estate is also profiled in the best-selling book The Paintings of Criss Canning and countless international garden magazines.

“Even after all these years, I still pinch myself and think, ‘how lucky am I to have lived here?’”

The home features five bedrooms, a grand formal drawing room with bay windows and pressed metal ceilings, a sun-drenched entertaining space known as the ‘long room’, and a chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry.

Burnside was built in the 1800s by early European settlers using locally quarried bluestone and it has since been transformed into one of regional Victoria’s most admired private estates.

Burnside’s long dining room is a celebration of indoor-outdoor living — with French doors, garden views and vintage fittings, the space is perfect for slow lunches and grand dinners alike.

Additional features include stables, a hayshed, a dam, and three-phase power.

Jellis Craig Ballarat director Tony Douglass said the opportunity to secure a lifestyle property of this calibre in such a tightly held location was “genuinely once-in-a-generation”.

“You’re talking about 32 acres in a prime pocket of Ascot with a homestead and gardens of this quality — it’s extremely rare,” Mr Douglass said.

The country-style kitchen features extensive cabinetry, high-end appliances and a butler’s pantry.

The grand formal living room features bay windows, a pressed metal ceiling and open fireplace — evoking a bygone era of country elegance.

“We’re mainly seeing lifestyle buyers — people looking for a sanctuary away from the city.”

“There’s also potential for the property to evolve into something like a boutique wedding venue or short-stay accommodation, although we’re not pushing that too heavily. The versatility here is the real beauty.”

While international inquiries had not yet come through, Mr Douglass said he wouldn’t be surprised if they did given Lambley’s global reputation.

The grand entrance hall at Burnside makes a lasting first impression, with original timber floors and soaring ceilings.

One of Burnside’s two family bathrooms showcases period styling with modern functionality, its vintage fittings, warm light and timeless materials maintain the home’s heritage feel.

“You really need to walk the grounds to understand what’s been created here. The love, the labour, the vision — it’s all so tangible. It’s a living legacy.”

Reflecting on the broader market, Mr Douglass said 2024 had been a challenging year, but conditions were improving in 2025.

“There’s a growing sense of confidence since the most recent rate cut,” he said.

The residence offers five bedrooms across two wings, including a private upper-level retreat and rooms with working fireplaces.

“Sales volumes are up and we feel like we’ve passed the bottom. It’s a good time to bring something special like this back to market.”

While the property is open to a range of potential uses, Mr Douglass believes the ideal buyer will be someone who shares the couple’s passion.

“This is a property that deserves to be nurtured,” he said.

“Whether that’s through continuing the nursery or simply preserving the gardens as they are, I think it will go to someone who truly appreciates the vision and wants to carry it forward in their own way.”

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Originally published as What makes Criss Canning and David Glenn’s $2.7m Ascot estate and world-famous garden a once-in-a-lifetime buy