Rippon Lea Estate
Presenter: Melissa King
Do you feel like visiting a grand Romanesque style mansion set in 14 acres of pleasure grounds? Sounds like something out of a fairytale but you will find it right in the heart of Elsternwick.
Rippon Lea is the last of Australia's great privately owned 19th century suburban estates. Now in the hands of the National Trust, the mansion was designed and built in 1868 for Sir Frederick Sargood, a wealthy Melbourne businessman, politician and philanthropist. The property was named after Fredrick’s mother Emma Rippon and lea, the old English word for meadow.
Of course such a grand house deserves an equally grand garden so the property comes complete with an extensive pleasure garden, decked out with its very own lake, waterfall, fernery, heritage orchard and 1930s swimming pool.
The original garden dates from the late 1860’s and there are even accounts that William Guilfoyle, of the Botanic Gardens, was involved in the early design. But in the 1880’s Sargood and his head gardener, Adam Anderson, re-landscaped the garden into a more natural style and it is that park like setting that has been frozen in time and is visible today.
Enormous deciduous trees, Eucalypts and conifers give you an idea of how old the garden really is. In it’s hey day the property was the scene of frequent parties and dinners, entertaining important local and visiting dignitaries. In the same tradition, weddings and parties are still celebrated in the gardens today.
The Fernery was built in 1884 and has been recently restored. From a heritage perspective Rippon Lea’s shade house is extremely important because it is the largest known in Australia and possibly the world. Architecturally its curved plan and form of construction are particularly notable.
Fredrick Sargood was ahead of his time so the gardens were designed to be self-sufficient when it comes to water. He developed a big man-made lake on the property which was a holding tank for storm water run-off from the surrounding area and was used to sustain the enormous garden. Underground is an extensive drainage system which dates back to the 1880’s and is still used today.
In the 1960’s the property switched to mains water supply, but recent conservation works have restored Sargood’s grand plan and today 95% of the garden is lake watered.
In the late 1930’s the property was owned Louisa Jones who was a leading figure in the Melbourne social set. She made a few additions to the house and garden to sustain her lavish lifestyle including a Hollywood style swimming pool and grand ballroom. When she died in 1972, Rippon Lea was her gift to the National Trust and the community.
Now for this week’s water saving tip:
Healthy plants are less susceptible to disease and better able to cope with dry conditions. So get out there and give your garden a boost with fertilizer to provide all the nutrients it needs to keep plants growing happily.
Ripponlea Estate and Historic House
192 Hotham Street,
Elsternwick
http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_properties/melbourne_and_surrounds/rippon_lea_estate
Featured Product
Thrive Soluble Fruit and Flower
Do you feel like visiting a grand Romanesque style mansion set in 14 acres of pleasure grounds? Sounds like something out of a fairytale but you will find it right in the heart of Elsternwick.
Rippon Lea is the last of Australia's great privately owned 19th century suburban estates. Now in the hands of the National Trust, the mansion was designed and built in 1868 for Sir Frederick Sargood, a wealthy Melbourne businessman, politician and philanthropist. The property was named after Fredrick’s mother Emma Rippon and lea, the old English word for meadow.
Of course such a grand house deserves an equally grand garden so the property comes complete with an extensive pleasure garden, decked out with its very own lake, waterfall, fernery, heritage orchard and 1930s swimming pool.
The original garden dates from the late 1860’s and there are even accounts that William Guilfoyle, of the Botanic Gardens, was involved in the early design. But in the 1880’s Sargood and his head gardener, Adam Anderson, re-landscaped the garden into a more natural style and it is that park like setting that has been frozen in time and is visible today.
Enormous deciduous trees, Eucalypts and conifers give you an idea of how old the garden really is. In it’s hey day the property was the scene of frequent parties and dinners, entertaining important local and visiting dignitaries. In the same tradition, weddings and parties are still celebrated in the gardens today.
The Fernery was built in 1884 and has been recently restored. From a heritage perspective Rippon Lea’s shade house is extremely important because it is the largest known in Australia and possibly the world. Architecturally its curved plan and form of construction are particularly notable.
Fredrick Sargood was ahead of his time so the gardens were designed to be self-sufficient when it comes to water. He developed a big man-made lake on the property which was a holding tank for storm water run-off from the surrounding area and was used to sustain the enormous garden. Underground is an extensive drainage system which dates back to the 1880’s and is still used today.
In the 1960’s the property switched to mains water supply, but recent conservation works have restored Sargood’s grand plan and today 95% of the garden is lake watered.
In the late 1930’s the property was owned Louisa Jones who was a leading figure in the Melbourne social set. She made a few additions to the house and garden to sustain her lavish lifestyle including a Hollywood style swimming pool and grand ballroom. When she died in 1972, Rippon Lea was her gift to the National Trust and the community.
Now for this week’s water saving tip:
Healthy plants are less susceptible to disease and better able to cope with dry conditions. So get out there and give your garden a boost with fertilizer to provide all the nutrients it needs to keep plants growing happily.
Ripponlea Estate and Historic House
192 Hotham Street,
Elsternwick
http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_properties/melbourne_and_surrounds/rippon_lea_estate
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