Click here to view this title on the wyndham library catalog ue. Let a mischievous maid and suspicious butler take you on an entertaining journey through one of australias most spectacular properties. Its one of melbournes most striking and beloved landmarks, costing the equivalent of 9 million to build. Its stunning architecture and rich history is also the home of not one, but 2 tragedies. The experience is set in 1908 after the tragic death of mary chirnside. The manor was owned by percy chirnside who was one of andrew chirnsides sons, the other was called george. Biography thomas chirnside australian dictionary of. Thomas chirnside, one of the two brothers who built the stately residence, suffered depression and committed suicide by. Wyndham history the chirnsides and werribee park topic. Werribee park is a significant cultural and heritage attraction offering an authentic insight into australias richly diverse history.
Lancemore mansion hotel werribee park, werribee updated. Werribee park mansion construction in focus magazine. In 186063 he was a director of the national bank of australasia. They bought lollipop creek the property of james anderson and the property of edward wedge after his death in the werribee flood of 1852. Werribee park mansion was built in 1877 for the chirnside family. Werribee park mansion was a fascinating place in 1908. Known to some as the chirnside mansion, this spacious and elegant manor was built in the. When scottishborn thomas chirnside first moved to werribee in the late 1840s, the town was a common overnight stop for those travelling between the developing cities of melbourne and geelong. Explore the heritagelisted werribee mansion, set up a picnic in the beautiful formal gardens or see a kaleidoscope of colour when the 5000 roses bloom in the victoria state rose garden. Welcome to lancemore mansion hotel werribee park set amongst acres of formal english gardens and lush rolling lawns, lancemore mansion hotel werribee parks is located only 30minutes from melbourne yet feels an entire world away. Night theatre performance at werribee park mansion for 2. Photo taken from wool past the winning post a history of the chirnside family by heather b.
In 1850 they bought property named werribee lower once owned by gellibrand they kept buying land. Built and completed by wealthy scottish pastoralists, the chirnside family, in 1877, the mansion is a living, breathing postcard of the 19th century. Located just 30 minutes from melbourne by car, werribee park is so. Mansion hotel and spa at werribee park accommodation. What was that, werribee mansion mystery night tour. In 1839, the brothers moved to australia from scotland, and they became wealthy primarily through sheep farming. Complete with several wings and 60 rooms, it is a massive property. A major feature of chirnside park precinct is werribee outdoor olympic pool which is open from november march each year. Photo taken from wool past the winning post a history of. Probably one of the main attractions is to visit the historic chirnside mansion is the jewel of werribee park. Mansion hotel and spa at werribee park is located next to the historic chirnside mansion. When you arrive at werribee mansion for your night tour adventure, youll be taken back to july 1908. Theatrical production performed at night in the werribee park mansion. Werribees open range zoo and the national equestrian center are each a 3minute drive away.
The gardens feature a parterre, which is a geometric garden design best viewed from the mansion balcony, pond and original grotto. The world is a book, and those that do not travel read only a page. In 1839 chirnside came from liverpool on the ship bardaster. Drawing room, werribee mansion in 1852 thomas bought alexander irvines land and 7 roomed cottage and woodshed at point cook. On 5 february 1884 thomas laid the foundation stone of the second presbyterian church in werribee. In 1883 thomas donated an acre of land and built the first church in werribee to be known as st thomas the apostle. Behind werribee mansion in a separate wing is the mansion hotel and spa. Experience the grandeur of werribee mansion, discover victorias unique pastoral history down at the farm and homestead, relax with family and friends on the great lawn surrounded by stunning formal gardens, and so much more. A beautiful historic mansion sits in the suburb of werribee in victoria. Once a thriving 80,000 acre farm owned by one of australian aristocratic family. Werribee park and mansion attraction tour werribee. Guests can take a walk in the peaceful surroundings of the lovely gardens. Two actors as maggie the head maid and mr duncan the head butler will guide you through the mansion and the story unfolds as you move from room to room. It was st josephs seminary from 1926 to the 1970s, and when the catholic church moved out, they sold it to the victorian government which transformed it into the.
Thomas chirnside left his hometown of berwickshire in scotland in 1838. Werribee mansion is surrounded by 10 hectares of formal gardens, widely attributed to w. Unique night visit to the stunning werribee park mansion normally shut to public printed material that covers the history behind the play available at the end of performance. He arrived in adelaide in january, and sydney in march of that year. The original subdivision of chirnside park was, at that time, known as mooroolbark park. Robert chirnside whose ancestors, scottish immigrants thomas and andrew chirnside, completed the landmark italianate mansion at werribee park. Werribees open range zoo and the national equestrian centre are each a 3minute drive away. This book identifies the five main periods in the history of the werribee district from the 1830s to the 1930s. The family sold werribee park, the headquarters of its empire, and transferred the stud herds and the werribee mansion contents to mooroolbark park. Popular attraction werribee open range zoo is located nearby.
Thomas chirnside 18151887 was an australian pastoralist who settled on much of what would become western melbourne thomas chirnside was born in berwickshire, scotland, the elder son of robert chirnside and mary fairs. The brothers then began work on the 60 roomed werribee mansion. The landmark werribee park mansion is a vivid reminder of early melbourne and entrepreneurial spirit and trials of victorias pastoral pioneers. Lancemore mansion hotel werribee park with its contemporary rooms and picturesque surrounds, including 10 acres of formal english gardens, the lancemore mansion hotel werribee park is one of melbournes premier wedding venues. Prominent victorian family the chirnsides sell toorak home.
In the 1840s thomas chirnside was a member of the geelong and portland bay immigration society committee. Werribee park mansion was built between 1874 and 1877 in the italianatestyle by the pioneering pastoralists thomas chirnside 18151887 and his brother andrew chirnside 18181890, from scotland, founders of the chirnside pastoral empire. Werribee park mansion,werribee, victoria, australia werribee park is the estate of a historical building in werribee, the haunting presence at werribee park mansion is said to be one of two people, or indeed both of them. Werribee park mansion is a beautiful building that deserves inspection. Once the working heart of the werribee park estate, the remaining bluestone outbuildings of the farmyard provide a stark contrast to the elaborate craftsmanship of the chirnside mansion. He carried with him a few hundred pounds and a bible. In the late 1840s thomas chirnside moved to the werribee area and later built the mansion at werribee park. The australian city of melbourne is chock full of activities and attractions to check out.
In 1923, the property was home to a catholic seminary named corpus christi college where additional wings were added by the monks that were living there. When andrew died he had left werribee park to george. Chirnside mansion was built between 1874 and 1877 and boasts 60 rooms within two wings which adjoin to the rear of a central block and enclose a large courtyard. Werribee park and mansion, attraction, melbourne, victoria. This 3day melbourne city card takes the guesswork out of navigating public transport with an included 72hour hopon hopoff sightseeing tour and includes free admission to a number of attractions including the eureka skydeck, melbourne star, and yarra river cruise. Their enormous wealth helped to build the werribee mansion to a place of grandeur. Just a 30 minute drive from melbourne cbd, nestled among well manicured gardens you will find the historic werribee park mansion.
The mansion was bult in 1874 to 1877 by the ultrawealthy chirnside family, who raised sheep. Later, thomas agreed to partner with andrew at werribee and build a mansion for andrew and his wife, mary, to raise their children in. Uncover the secret lives of the chirnsides in a most theatrical experience. Lancemore mansion hotel werribee park senior stays. Werribee park mansion 2020 all you need to know before. The rooms open to the public include the billiard room, the main bedrooms, the reception rooms and part of the kitchen. Combines comedy, history and scary elements to make this unique show unforgettable. Copies can also be purchased from the werribee and district historical society. Book the lancemore mansion hotel werribee park stay at this 5star luxury hotel in werribee south. Werribee park paranormal investigation twisted history. In 1860 a site near the present hoppers crossing railway station was chosen to be the starting point of the first accurate surveying of the whole of victoria. In 1921, george chirnside purchased the mooroolbark park homestead and grazing property near lilydale, east of melbourne.
The centrepiece of this jewel in the west is a superbly restored 1870s italianate mansion, originally built by scottish squatters thomas and andrew chirnside. On june 25 th 1887 thomas sadly took his own life, leaving everything to his brother andrew and his nephews. Join the team at twisted history as we explore the original chirnside homestead hidden behind the grand mansion and nestled on the banks of the werribee river. Lancemore mansion hotel werribee park is located next to the historic chirnside mansion. In 1921 george chirnside sold werribee park, moving the familys stud herds and the contents of werribee mansion to mooroolbark park. Thomas chirnside had no children as he was a bachelor and had no one to inherit his share in chirnside pastoral co. Wander down to the heritage orchard and see the work the community and parks victoria have put in to preserve and restore the fruit orchard originally planted by the chirnside family in the late 1800s. Together they began to purchase runs throughout port phillip. By the 1870s, thomas was joined by his brother andrew, and together, they founded the chirnside pastoral empire and began building an italianatestyle bluestone mansion. The history of the werribee park mansion and orchard in 1.
Chirnside park is also the home ground werribee football club vfl. Quite literally one of the grandest hotels in australia, the lancemore mansion hotel werribee park is a cosmopolitan haven of tranquility and charm. We are endlessly fascinated by the lifestyles of the ricjh and famous, even if they lived a very long while ago. Completed in 1877, werribee park mansion supported an extensive farming workforce across ten acres, but after thomas committed suicide in 1887, the mansion was left to andrew and his sons to manage. In his last few years thomas chirnside took up residence in his mansion at werribee park where he fell sick and depressed. R guilfoyle, curator of the melbourne botanic gardens. The luxurious hotel offers five star accommodation with day spa and restaurant for a luxurious getaway. Either way, this 3 hour paranormal investigation of the of the chirnside property in werribee is for you. Lancemore mansion hotel werribee park in melbourne expedia. In 1890, andrew died of heart disease, and his son george chirnside inherited the mansion. A premier and highly sought after destination just 30 minutes from melbournes cbd. Soak up the richness of werribee park, an estate built on the wealth of an australian pastoral empire. Werribee park mansion is a magnificent 19th century building beautifully restored and filled with memories in a background of fascinating stories.
1332 115 931 885 1522 693 1456 1396 1476 324 286 399 1114 1323 383 170 346 1437 1369 1495 1106 453 369 448 513 250 1147 1371 605 1331 583 540 1368 1218 228 279 812 1017 80 1488 365 935 1150 77 1140 1024 555