Western District mansion sold in seven-figure deal

A six-bedroom sandstone homestead in Victoria’s west has changed hands after offers exceeded the asking price. See the details.

A grand Western Victorian rural estate has changed hands for the first time in more than 80 years, selling in a seven-figure deal.

Private owners of the 150-year-old Gringegalgona Homestead have sold the historic 690 sqm sandstone mansion, set on more than 22 hectares about 60km north of Hamilton in the state’s Western District.

Listed for sale in October last year, the Gringegalgona Homestead was expected to field offers worth $2-$2.2 million. The property is located in the Gringegalgona district, a locality home to 44 people according to the 2021 Census.

The value of the transaction for the historic property remains undisclosed, however, it is understood to have exceeded the asking price.

It is also understood the sandstone mansion has been bought by a Melbourne-based family.

Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists selling agent Dominic Romeo said the property attracted interest from Victorian and interstate buyers who were seeking a historic property on a smaller acreage.

The Gringegalgona Homestead, south of Balmoral, is for sale. Pictures: Aaron Jones

“In the end we had multiple offers for Gringegalgona after a lot of interest- more than expected,” Mr Romeo said.

“Often with a property like this it may attract a lot of people, but not all are true buyers, some might just be intrigued and want to know more.

“But in this case there were many very interested people with quite a few genuine buyers.”

The centrepiece of the property is the mighty Gringegalgona Homestead, which offers four large formal rooms, as well as six large bedrooms and two bathrooms, all with 3.7m ceilings and views across the surrounding garden and to the Dundas Ranges, accessed via the grand staircase.

The origins of the Gringegalgona Homestead date back to the 19th century when Simeon Cadden first took up the vast pastoral run which spanned more than 36,400 hectares at the time.

But it wasn’t until 1861 that Duncan Robertson, a successful Western District pastoralist, purchased the run, which then covered 11,330 hectares.

Seven years later Mr Robertson opened tenders to build his new homestead and in 1873-74, commissioned William Thomas Gore from South Australia to replace Cadden’s original homestead, paving the way for the construction of the sandstone mansion at a cost of 6000 pounds.

The two-storey Gringegalgona Homestead.

Throughout the years the Gringegalgona property reduced in size and by 1919 May Robertson secured the homestead block at 785 hectares for a sum of 9200 pounds.

The current owners’ family purchased the property in 1940 and during the 1960s, the homestead block was reduced to the current 22 hectares and has remained a private family home ever since.

At Gringegalgona a striking main entrance door with elegant sidelights and fanlights leads to an entry hallway of enormous proportions and fine detailing, including 5m ceilings, marbled arched columns, moulded consoles, deep cornices and wide Northern Hemisphere pine, fir and spruce floorboards.

Inside the Gringegalgona Homestead.

Outside the symmetrical front facade of the Gringegalgona Homestead includes locally quarried freestone, quoin masonry, Corinthian veranda posts and the symbolic stone ring representing the house and garden.

Mature English deciduous trees, expansive lawns, hedging, flower beds, fruit trees and red gums feature in the garden, while the front lawn includes the only known example of three lawn turning circles in Victoria.

The property also comprises Bryan’s Creek frontage, fenced livestock paddocks and two dams along with 300 sqm stone stables, coach house, equipment rooms and hay loft as outbuildings.