One of the Western District’s oldest mansions hits the market

Seven-figure offers are expected for a two-storey bluestone homestead, with more than 170 years of Victorian pastoral history.

The 8.5ha Arrandoovong homestead property has been listed for sale by vendor David Wyner.

A two-storey bluestone homestead, considered one of the Western District’s oldest mansions of the 19th century squatter era, has hit the market offering a slice of Victoria’s pastoral heritage.

Arrandoovong, set on 8.5ha at Branxholme, 20km south of Hamilton first caught the eye of owner David Wyner more than 15 years ago, igniting a spark inside him.

The retired chief operating officer of a Melbourne-based insurance company made a tree-change nine years ago when he bought Arrandoovong, determined to restore the homestead to its rightful glory.

“I first saw the homestead seven years before I bought it, but that wasn’t the right time. Then when I saw it was for sale, on a Wednesday, I drove up and I bought it on Friday,” David said.

“The homestead needed saving and seeing it struck my heart. The old girl needed some tender love and care. It was in a sad and sorry state.

“The sheep had come into the garden and so laid all the bedrock and got about planting. Inside there are new kitchens and bathrooms brought it back to standard and sympathetically restored to its period.

“It took the best part of five years to get it where it is now and I have just fallen in love with it.”

An established garden with plantings from the 1850s surrounds the homestead.

The squatting run of Arrandoovong, once 2500ha, dates back to 1844 when it was taken up by Patrick Lynch, before Thomas Best, a blacksmith in the service of the Henty family at Portland, acquired the property.

Mr Best subsequently became a publican in Branxholme and sold Arrandoovong in 1853 to Angus Cameron.

It was Mr Cameron who built the two-storey bluestone homestead as his family home, with its Italianate-style thought to be inspired by Mrs Cameron’s family home on the Isle of Arran off the coast of Scotland.

The Arrandoovong homestead offers five large bedrooms plus a fully restored attached self contained circa-1900 weatherboard apartment.

BRANXHOLME
ARRANDOOVONG
Property: lifestyle
Size: 8.5ha
Sale: private
Price: $2.35m to $2.5m
Agent: Dominic Romeo Historic Property
Contact: Dominic Romeo, 0438 500 277

branxholme property the weekly times

In its present state there is a wide circular drive with stone walling and a feature fountain on arrival to Arrandoovong.

The entry to the historic property features a deep, expansive and detailed veranda with cast iron posts and lacework.

Inside on the first floor is an entry hallway with fine detailing and formal rooms including the dining and sitting rooms and a large informal sitting room or office.

There are also seven marble and timber fireplaces, high 3.7m ceilings and decorative cornices and rosettes, joinery, panelled doors, large sash windows.

Towards the rear, there is a large sunroom, laundry and private entertainment room, plus a kitchen with bespoke cabinetry, subway tiling, extensive granite work benchtops, modern equipment and extensive storage space.

Outbuildings at Arrandoovong include the weatherboard stables and coach house, meat house, carriage shed or workshop, garage, large open fronted machinery or hay shed and garden toilet.

Upstairs there are five large bedrooms with French doors onto the veranda, two bathrooms and a powder room, all with views over the garden.

Attached to Arrandoovong is a fully restored attached self contained circa-1900 weatherboard apartment which contains a bedroom, study or second bedroom, designer bathroom and large kitchen, dining and sitting area.

The remainder of the property includes frontage to the spring fed Arrandoovong Creek, and fully fenced livestock paddocks. The established garden still has plantings from the 1850s including English elms and Oaks, Bunya Bunya, Stone Pine, Hawthorn, Blue Cedar and the largest Algerian Oak in the southern hemisphere.

Fine detailings plus sympathetic restorations are now part of the Arrandoovong homestead.

For David, Arrandoovong has become his “private paradise”, but also served as a popular Airbnb getaway, plus wedding and events venue.

“One of the things I love is you can come out onto the front veranda with a cup of coffee and for as far as your eyes can see, it’s all yours,” he said.

“It is the most wonderful thing to see all the trees and hear the birds singing. I feel so fortunate, so blessed.”