Woodlands Homestead

Architect: Peter Thompson 1843

Further Afield | F01

Building Description

Woodlands Homestead, located at Woodlands Historic Park, is a unique and treasured part of Victoria’s heritage. Established in 1843. Carpenters erected temporary buildings for the household staff while the homestead was being established. Rolf Boldrewood (author of Robbery Under Arms) often visited Woodlands during the 1840s. He described it as, the country house par excellence of the period. Neither a farm nor yet a large estate, it was something between the two, while the household and the menage generally were much more in accordance with the habtitudes of the English country-house than often obtains in Australia. The homestead underwent a California bungalow facelift in the 1920s when owned by Ben Chaffey. The homestead and associated outbuildings still retain many of the original features from this time. Today, the Woodlands Homestead houses an extensive art collection, various collections of historic artifacts, including The McCracken Collection, plus horse racing memorabilia associated with our Living Legends.

What's On

Guided and self-guided tours of the homestead, surrounding gardens and the opportunity for visitors to mingle with retired champion racehorses.

Location