Rippon Lea House Museum and Historic Garden


The Rippon Lea House Museum and the Historic Garden, which is under the tutelage of the Australian National Trust, is located in the suburbs of Melbourne - Elsternvik, Victoria. This territory belonged to businessman Frederik Sargut from 1868: it was this year that together with his wife he bought a huge territory of land near Melbourne, and later a two-storeyed mansion was built and a garden with greenhouses, greenhouses and an artificial lake was broken.

History and architecture

The Rippon Lea House Museum and the Historic Garden were built under the guidance of architect Joseph Reed, he described the architectural style of the building as a "polychrome romanesque", and the inspiration was the buildings and structures of Italian Lombardy. By the way, the Rippon Lea House Museum and the Historic Garden was the first architectural ensemble of Australia , illuminated by electricity - for this the owner of the house permanently kept an electrician, serving generators and the entire electrical system of the house and garden. The most significant changes in the appearance of the house were made in 1897: the building was significantly extended to the north, and the outbuilding tower was built.

In 1903, after the death of the owner of the manor, the Rippon Lea House Museum and the Historic Garden were sold to builders and the continued existence of the ensemble was a big question, but to an unambiguous decision for 6 years, the concern did not come, then already in 1910 the Rippon Lea House Museum and the Historical Garden were re-auctioned, and their owners were Ben and Agnes Nathan, and later their eldest daughter who organized a large-scale reconstruction of the House and Gardens. This time the house was restored in "Hollywood style", and the walls were decorated "under marble". In addition, the ballroom was redone - now it became a pool and a ballroom, and the garden was kept in its original form.

After the death of the mistress in 1972, the House and Gardens moved to the management of the National Trust of Australia.

How to get there and when to visit?

The Rippon Lea House Museum and the Historical Garden are open daily from 10.00 to 17.00, and there is also a café on site that is open to visitors from 10.00 to 16.00. The cost of visiting for adults is $ 9, and for children - $ 5.

You can get to the Rippon Lea House Museum and the Historic Garden by buses 216 and 219 or by the 67 Coleridge St and by the Sandringham Line train from Flinders St. Station. Station to Rippon Lea Station.