Rupertswood is a

mansion A mansion is a large dwelling house. The word itself derives through Old French from the Latin word ''mansio'' "dwelling", an abstract noun derived from the verb ''manere'' "to dwell". The English word '' manse'' originally defined a property l ...

and country estate located in Sunbury, 50km north-northwest of Melbourne in Victoria,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It is well known as the birthplace of The Ashes urn which was humorously presented to English cricket captain

Ivo Bligh Ivo is a masculine given name, in use in various European languages. The name used in western European languages originates as a Normans, Normannic name recorded since the High Middle Ages, and the French name Yves (given name), Yves is a varian ...

to mark his team's victory in an 1882-83 Test match series between

and England. Rupertswood is one of the largest houses constructed in Victoria and, although now subdivided, has significant farm land. The estate also had its own private railway station (until closure in 2004), and artillery battery. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. The foundation stone for Rupertswood was laid on 29 August 1874 with around 1,000 people in attendance. The house was the country seat completed in 1876 for Sir William Clarke a land owner and pastoralist who was one of Australia's wealthiest men and the first Australian-born baronet. It was designed by local architect George L. Browne in the Free Classical style. From 1874-1876 Sir William Clarke employed notable landscape designer William Sangster to design and create the surrounding gardens.Foster, John H. (1989) Victorian Picturesque: The Colonial Gardens of William Sangster. University of Melbourne History Dept. p. 44. The estate was sold in 1925 to Hugh Victor McKay, a wealthy industrialist and inventor of the

Sunshine Harvester Hugh Victor McKay (21 August 1865 – 21 May 1926) was an Australian industrialist who is known for heading the company that developed the Sunshine Harvester, arguably the first commercially viable combine harvester. He subsequently establishe ...

. When McKay died in 1926, Rupertswood was bought by pastoralist William Naughton, and then in 1927 by the

Salesian Society , image = File:Stemma big.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms , abbreviation = SDB , formation = , founder = John Bosco , founding_location = Valdocco, Turin ...

, which used the mansion and surrounding property as a male boarding school. The school later became co-educational, relocated into separate premises nearby, and is known as Salesian College, Rupertswood. In March 2006, the Commonwealth Games

Queen's Baton Relay The Queen's Baton Relay is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently King Charles III. The Relay traditionally begins at Buckingha ...

travelled to the area, where a re-enactment of the handing over of The Ashes to the English took place in front of a small local crowd. The mansion was restored with the help of interior designer and Victorian architecture specialist Jacqui Robertson and converted into a hotel that was often used for weddings and other formal events until its closure in 2014. The contents were auctioned on site in July 2014 by Glenelg Auction Centre. The building is now used as administration offices for Salesian College.

References

External links

{{coord, display=title, -37.572772, 144.738538, type:landmark_region:AU Houses in Victoria (Australia) Heritage-listed buildings in Melbourne Victorian architecture in Victoria (Australia) Australian cricket in the 19th century Hotels in Victoria (Australia) 1874 establishments in Australia Sunbury, Victoria Buildings and structures in the City of Hume Houses completed in 1874

See also

References

External links