Eynesbury Homestead, Eynesbury, Victoria Australia
The magnificently restored heritage listed Eynesbury homestead at Eynesbury was built and handcrafted from local bluestone quarried on the property 150 years ago. It stands as a testament to the pioneering spirit of the Staughton family who settled in the area in 1841.
Property History
Eynesbury Station once formed part of a vast pastoral empire owned by Simon Staughton known as Exford which comprised over 70,000 acres. Construction of the substantial bluestone homestead complex began in 1870 and built over two stages. The first stage, comprised a double storey bluestone building constructed in the Georgian style with very little of the interior remaining. By 1885 Simon Staughton had commissioned notable Melbourne architect Guyon Purchas to extend the Homestead. Two new wings accommodated a billiard room and dining room as well as service areas were added to each side of the central two-storey Colonial Palladian pavilion.
Architectural Features
The original two storey section is in a Colonial Palladian style with a widows-walk. Whereas, the later Victorian wings are in coursed rusticated bluestone with finely detailed eaves, expressed quoins and tall stuccoed chimneys. The combination, forms a harmonious architectural composition. The single storied bay windowed wings were added at a later date during the 1880’s. The old and the new sections are skillfully tied together at the front by wide concave verandah geometry extending the full width of the central block and pavilions. The combination of the early homestead building and corner pavilions is remarkably successful and gives the house an external character and beauty in a unique expression of architectural unity.
In 1885 the Homestead was extended and the bluestone staff quarters and Stables were constructed. This grouping of buildings created a clearly defined hierarchy of domestic, utilitarian and formal spaces. The Homestead gardens are an important feature of the Eynesbury landscape . These include, formal plantings, clearly defined spoke paths and carriage circles, characteristic of the Victorian period. The homestead has a heritage trail, Eynesbury woodland, stables, Myer houses and butchers shed. Additionally, there is a timber header tank, meat smoke houses, staff quarters, ornamental lake, shearer’s quarters, drop slab hut, second shearing complex and ha ha walls.
Special Comments from Chris Wilmar, Architect
Eynesbury Homestead is of State heritage significance and architecturally a highly distinctive homestead and historically important for association with the Staughton family who settled there in 1841. The homestead and associated outbuildings are an outstanding example of Australian nineteenth century homestead architecture. Over recent decades, the homestead and adjoining stable complex have been transformed to a functions centre with corporate golfing facilities and the hub for Eynesbury residential housing estate.
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