Bishopscourt Mansion and Gardens

Tutor/Leader: Jenny Turner
Tutor 2: Karen McBean
Location: Sunbury Station
Frequency: one off
Day:  Tuesday
Time: 8:00am
Date:  29 Jul 2025
Capacity: 25
Cost: $30.00

This outing will be an early start as 10.00am is the only start time for the tour. But we do promise scones with jam and cream with a cuppa by an open fire when you get there.

Built in 1853, Bishopscourt is the oldest house in East Melbourne and has been the residence of the Anglican Bishop and later the Archbishop of Melbourne.

In 1848, $2,000 was set aside to build a blue stone colonial residence in a style of gothic architecture, set on two acres of land. After delays due to the extensive bushfires of Black Thursday (6th February 1851) and the discovery of gold in August the same year, the house was finally completed at a greatly increased cost.

In 1903 the house was deemed to be unfit for occupation and so it was renovated and a new Queen Anne, red brick extension was built.

Also at that time Janet, Lady Clarke of Sunbury fame, raised funds to build a chapel which was dedicated to St John the Evangelist, with marble steps, stained glass windows and wooden furniture being gifted by the by various bishops.

As part of the renovations Walter Bulter a talented landscape architect also redesigned the gardens. The house and gardens are now included The Victorian Heritage Register with 9 trees on the property dating back to the 1800s.

Over the last 15 years there has been a number of supporters of the garden who volunteer their time to maintaining the gardens and raise donations for it’s continued upkeep.