Berrambool Homestead: Werribee Mansion’s shabby chic sister property pinched from the Queen

This historic Victorian estate, pinched from the Queen by squatters and panic-sold to a shepherd who then employed Werribee Mansion’s architect, is a “serious restoration project”.

Berrambool Homestead at 1009 Chatsworth Wickliffe Road, Wickliffe, is for sale with a colourful history dating back more than 150 years.

Part of a historic Victorian property pinched from the Queen and later panic-sold to a migrant shepherd who used it to build a landmark property portfolio has hit the market.

The 11.33ha Berrambool Homestead at 1009 Chatsworth Wickliffe Road, Wickliffe, is one of four land holdings carved off an even larger estate seized from the Crown by squatters in 1840.

In need of a renovation, the homestead with a $1.45-$1.55m asking price was designed by the same architect who created the landmark Werribee Mansion and was built for the Moffat family, known for their Western Districts station Chatsworth House — which hosted royalty.

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However, Royal Historical Society of Victoria documents show Berrambool, about 240km west of Melbourne towards Horsham, started out as a fraction of the Hopkins Hill estate established in 1840.

Squatter and pastoralist firm the Clyde Company illegally took over land previously held by the Crown — at the time, Queen Victoria.

The home’s interiors reflect its one-time owner’s success – but are worn.

Not long after it was recognised as their own, an unrecorded forecast of financial difficulty convinced the firm to sell the full estate to John Moffat, a Scotland-born shepherd who had worked the land about 15 years prior.

Mr Moffat subdivided the property, leased the four estates he created and used the funds to build Chatsworth House, where he hosted Prince Albert in 1867.

Like the family’s more famous residence, Berrambool Homestead followed a design by architect James Fox who also created the Werribee Mansion.

Water damage to the home has not affected its solid structure.

With rare and impressive Gothic and Elizabethan architecture, the 1864-built original house is joined by bluestone stables and the ruins of an early sheering shed.

Circa Heritage and Lifestyle agent Dominic Romeo is working on the sale with Charles Stewart Real Estate’s Leeson White.

Mr Romeo said while the home “does need a lot of work” it was still an “amazingly solid building”.

Areas like the stables and woolshed have seen better days but still show solid walls.

“It’s not extensive damage, some of the photos look frightening, but they are not,” he said.

“We’ve had a number of inspections and strong phone inquiry.”

With buyers from both Melbourne and interstate interested, many are still waiting for a chance to inspect.

“Most of the people are the kind who want to do a serious restoration project and are looking for unique architecture and a historic house as well,” Mr Romeo said.

“The social history of properties like this are quite important for the people buying the property. It’s quite a fascinating history and a lot of people have owned it or gone through it.”

The architecture and style of the home has appealed to a range of buyers.

The home’s decorative finials and architectural flourishes are hard to find in newer builds.

Stained glass windows, keystones, finials, castellated parapets, decorative ceiling roses and cornices are among the striking details still on show more than 150 years later.

The property has suffered some water damage, but is structurally sound.

Charles Stewart’s Leeson White said while it had Hopkins River frontage, it was more suited for renewal as a home, or possibly as a bed and breakfast, than for farming.

Despite the damage, it’s easy to see how it could become an impressive family home again.

Even the home’s hallways are immense.

“It’s a unique property and well known to the district,” Mr White said.

“There could be some interest from people seeing potential for a bed and breakfast or a farmstay.

“It’s really a blank canvas and some people just want to go and live there.”

About 70km southeast of Hamilton and about 240km west of Melbourne, the property might also suit a modest vineyard.

The property’s outbuildings could be converted for use as a farmstay or other accommodation.

While some of the images might appear “scary” for inexperienced renovators, the building is still quite sound.

A historic woolshed on an adjoining parcel of land is expected to be part of the deal on a separate title, but could be sold separately. The almost 13ha parcel is expected to fetch more than $350,000.

Expressions of interest for Beerambool Homestead end November 27 at 1pm.

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Originally published as Berrambool Homestead: Werribee Mansion’s shabby chic sister property pinched from the Queen