Barwon Park Mansion

Barwon Park is a National Trust property and I received an email saying as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival there was a special tour of the house, with devonshire  tea for us oldies, so we thought we should be in that.

None of us had been to the mansion before - it is about two hours away from here.  It was a really nice day out.  We were very lucky with the weather and it was an easy drive there and back.

Due to all the rain, the River Barwon at Winchelsea was really high.  We had a look at the town before going to Barwon Park for our tour of the house.

Some of the picnic tables were well in the water

Audrey stopped on the access road to enable me to take a photo.  The house looks so nice from across the field of canola.

It was a bit windy as we looked at the succulent garden

It did start to threaten with rain so we presented ourselves at the front door of the property, even though it was a bit earlier than the booked time. Others were already there, so the tour of the house started early.  It is a very impressive place, nicely maintained with interesting furnishings.

The drawing room 

The very impressive staircase

We found the bedrooms interesting,  especially the nursery with its old fashioned toys and pusher.

The view from the balcony 

Elizabeth Austin, the owners wife founded the Austin Hospital as a hospital for incurables because she saw that there was a need for such a hospital. Apparently one of her staff developed TB and the only place she could be looked after was at Pentridge Prison. 

Afternoon tea in the dining room. Audrey was being mum for Pat.  The scones were so nice...

The builder of this mansion, Thomas Austin, is attributed with bringing rabbits to Australia. which was OK a the time, but proved to be a curse. Throughout the house there are toy bunnies of all sorts, tucked away in corners of most room.  

On our way back to the car we looked at the stables, which are very well maintained.  The rabbit theme was kept even in the carriage room, with a bunny sitting on one of them. 

 In the garden Audrey spotted this bunny,  made of brush - see the pipe in his mouth?