Are you interested in Historical Homes or looking for a place to have a picnic with family and/or friends?
If you are interested in Historical Homes then a visit to the Rippon Lea Estate is a place to go.
About Rippon Lea Estate
The Estate was built in 1868 and is a two storey home which originally consisted of 15 rooms and over the years was extended to 33 rooms. The property used to be double the size it is now and was a self-sufficient farm. It’s been part of the National Trust since 2006. The Estate is surrounded by gardens.
What’s at the Rippon Lea Estate?
The Estate has lovely gardens surrounding the Mansion which include an orchard and small lake spread over 14 acres. There is also a windmill, a small tower to climb overlooking the orchard and conservatory.
About the Rippon Lea Mansion
The Rippon Lea Mansion was beautifully decked out with the old furniture. In most rooms the original carpet has been replaced, it still has the original wallpaper which has faded over the years and lost its colour. There are old clothes on display that were worn in that era; they differ so much from today’s dress code. The tour takes you through the bedrooms, dining room, drawing room, bathrooms, hallways and stairways which are all beautiful. The detail on the ceilings you cannot find in today’s buildings…you can also visit the kitchen areas and the cellar which you enter from the gardens. This part of the Mansion you can also visit as part of the ‘garden only’ entry.
This is certainly another place that I wish the furniture could talk and tell us fascinating stories. Our guide told us how there was a button in the cushion in a dining room chair that when pressed a butler would appear. Just imagine what other wonderful stories could be shared!!
Visit the Gardens and/or Mansion?
Many people visit the ‘gardens only’ to enjoy a family picnic in the beautiful surroundings. An entry fee is required to pay to visit the gardens and for a small additional fee you can have a guided tour of the Mansion by a volunteer.
I totally recommend this, its great value. The tour is about 45 mins and takes you through the main areas of the Mansion which is fully furnished. The guide we had was really good and ensured he took time out to make the children in our tour feel included and kept their interest. He was full of knowledge of the family background and did a great job explaining it all to us.
How long do I need to explore the gardens/mansion?
- If you’re visiting the ‘gardens only’ allow approximately 45 mins, however if you are enjoying a family day out and having a picnic then allow a lot longer.
- To visit the Mansion and gardens allow a couple of hours and then time for a picnic or bite to eat at the cafe.
My Tips
If you want to visit other National Trust listed properties throughout Australia or around the world then invest in a National Trust Membership.
My family bought the National Trust annual membership which is awesome value. My Mum had previously had a National Trust membership when she travelled England years ago and reaped the benefits so she was really keen to join up.
There are all different types of memberships you can get i.e. household membership.
At the time of purchasing the membership the benefits of the National Trust membership were:
- Gain free entry to the National Trust properties in Victoria and Australia
- Gain free entry to more than 800 properties around the world
- Access to exclusive member-only events
- Receive editions of the National Trust magazine. My Mum received one when she joined up and was really pleased with it as it showed lots of other places of interest to go and had great detail.
- If you like shopping you’ll love that you receive 10% off in all National Trust shops in Australia
Most importantly my parents saved money by joining up on the day at the Estate rather than purchasing online.
Now my parents have the membership I cannot wait to go visit places like the Old Melbourne Gaol, Polly Woodside and Como House & Garden to name just a few.
Rippon Lea Estate Location
- Rippon Lea Estate is situated in Elsternwick Melbourne Australia approximately 8km from the Melbourne CBD.
- 192, Hotham Street, Elsternwick, Glen Eira, Victoria 3185 Australia
Can I get there by public transport?
You can get there by public transport from the Melbourne CBD by catching a train to the nearby Rippon Lea station on the Sandringham Line which is 600m away. Approximately a 7 minute walk.
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