Werribee, formerly known as Wyndham, is a suburb of Greater Melbourne. It is about 35 kms away from Melbourne's Central Business District. The Werribee River, with a length of about 100 kms., runs through it. Werribee can be reached via the Princes HIghway. And there is a Metrolink train that provides services to commuters.
A few kilometers away from the town proper is a bluestone mansion which is generally referred to as the Werribee Mansion. Hands down, it is the most beautiful and the biggest 19th century mansion ever built in the whole of Australia. It proudly stands within a 24,000 acre estate which used to be owned by pastoralist Thomas Chirnside. Primarily a tourist attraction nowadays, the Werribee Mansion has an interesting story behind it.
Thomas Chirnside was a Scottish migrant who began exploring unoccupied and untouched land in some parts of Australia in 1839. This was before the Gold Rush. Through sheer hard work and perseverance, he accumulated vast tracts of land for agricultural purposes. He imported sheep, cattle, horses and other livestock as he had the vision of developing areas suitable for farming.
As the years passed by, Chirnside became one of Australia's richest. His real estate property extended up to Werribee where he controlled a great part of the town. He owned approximately 250,000 acres of pastoral land in the State of Victoria alone. Now, there is this story that, one time, he traveled back to Scotland, fell in love with his first cousin Mary Begbie, proposed and asked her to join him in Australia. He was turned down, not by Mary, but by Mary's parents.
As his pastoral empire expanded, he engaged the services of his younger brother Andrew as Andrew permanently joined him in Australia. Andrew, on his own, acquired land in Werribee just like his brother. And when Andrew took a holiday trip to Scotland, he too fell in love with cousin Mary Begbie. He won the girl's heart and they eventually married and traveled together to Australia.
Thomas Chirnside took everything in stride and this development didn't change his relationship with his brother Andrew. Thomas, in the next three years, built a beautiful mansion within his Werribee estate which had a big, beautiful garden, a riverine and an area where animals of his choice would roam around. But he didn't stay there. Instead, he asked Andrew and Mary to live in the mansion as he wanted Mary to have the best things in life.
Thomas remained a bachelor and focused his attention to horse racing, hunting and coursing. His horse Haricot won the Melbourne Cup in 1874. Later on, he joined Andrew and Mary in the mansion at his Werribee estate. Though successful in every way, Thomas started having bouts of melancholy. He was in his 60s then. Sad thoughts triggered fits of depression. He feared, among other things, that his business gains would one day dwindle. He also had the unfounded fear that the government would confiscate some of his properties. Known for his generosity to the natives, he was well liked and was popular in Victoria. He turned over some of his properties to brother Andrew.
One day, he entered the laundry room in his estate. He had a shotgun with him. He positioned himself on a chair. He placed the butt of the gun on the ground with the muzzle facing him. He bent a little lower and with his toe, he pressed the trigger. Thomas Chirnside died instantly.
The news of his sudden death shocked Australia. Several years later, Mary Chirnside died tragically when her hair accidentally caught alight from a bedside candle. The estate was later sold to a religious organization which turned it into a monastery. Years after, the government of Victoria purchased it and made it the centerpiece of its tourism program in Werribee. The program is succeeding as busloads of tourists are often seen heading towards Werribee Mansion located within Werribee Park. Now, why don't you see it for yourself?
- Konted
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| Entrance to Werribee Mansion |
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| Big trees abound in the area. |
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| Several trees have been classified as heritage trees. |
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| The Werribee Mansion built by Thomas Chirnside |
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| Adjoining structure |
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| The mansion stands on a 24,000 acre property in Werribee. |
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| Lavishly furnished |
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| Priceless and elegant long table |
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| Expensive decors |
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| One of 60 bedrooms |
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| Dresser made of fine wood |
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| To the upper level |
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| Grand staircase |
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| Heavily curtained room |
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| Mementos |
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| Spacious hallway |
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| The Chirnsides as sportsmen |
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| At the recreation room |
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| Evidence of the Chirnside Brothers' love for hunting |
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| Thomas Chirnside was a pastoralist who acquired vast tracts of land throughout Australia. |
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| Thomas' younger brother Andrew |
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| Mary Chirnside |
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| Coffee shop at the ground floor |
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| Front yard of Werribee Mansion |
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| Thomas Chirnside owned about 250,000 acres of land in the State of Victoria alone. |
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| The Chirnsides owned large tracts of land on both sides of the Werribee River. |
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| Thomas Chirnside was one of Australia's richest. |
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| Thomas Chirnside imported foxes, horses, deer for his Werribee Estate. |
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| Well maintained lawn |
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| Path leading to the riverine |
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| Magpie Lark |
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| Serene lake at Werribee Park |
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| View of the Werribee Mansion from a distance |
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| 19th century style garden |
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| You see beautiful flowers throughout the gardens that surround the mansion. |
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| Clean and beautiful |
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| Sheep at the Werribee Estate of the Chirnsides |
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| Closer shot |
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| About Werribee Park where the Werribee Mansion is situated |
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| Entrance fees |
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| Road leading to Werribee Beach South |
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| Werribee Beach South is only 15 minutes away from the Werribee Mansion. |
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| The Chirnsides used to control a great part of Werribee in the 1800s. |
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| Werribee Beach South as viewed from the main road |
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| 4x4 Jeep dangerously parked |
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| A Yellow Labrador wanders at the foreshore |
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| Seagulls are everywhere. |
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| The jetty at Werribee Beach South |
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| A light fishing vessel berthed at the pier |
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| Sport fishing boats are popular in Australia. |
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| At the picnic ground of Werribee Beach South |
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| Free use of cooking grills, pans and other equipment |
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| Boeing's Armin S. and company |
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| Sunday is a busy day at The Ramp |
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| Being towed closer to the ramp |
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| A nice model |
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| To the deeper part of Werribee Beach South |
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| On patrol |
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| Windy at the foreshore |
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| The Melbourne Trio |
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| The Bay Trail at the foreshore of Werribee Beach South |
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| Good for walking or jogging |
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| Best shot of the day |
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| Testing the waters |
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| Beautiful lady and her dog at the Bay Trail |
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| Busy intersection at the town proper of Werribee |
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| The construction of the Uniting Church at the town proper of Werribee was financed by Thomas Chirnside. It used to be a Presbyterian Church. The lot where it stands was donated by Chirnside. |
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| Werribee Museum |
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| The Princes Highway at Werribee |
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| Memorial to war heroes |
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| Memorial to those who perished during the Vietnam War |
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| 7-11 petrol station at the town proper |
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| Typical house in Werribee |
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| Part of the beautification program of Werribee authorities |
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| Traders Bar and Lounge |
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| Wine & Liquor Drive Through |
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| Sidewalk cafe at the town of Werribee |
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| After a downpour |
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| At the commerical center of the town |
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| Biking is a popular recreational activity in Australia |
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| Mountain bikes and other models |
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| It is "take away", not "take out" |
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| Department store established in 1853 |
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| You take the train here to Melbourne's Central Business District. |
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| Entrance to Werribee Train Station |
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| Werribee's town plaza |
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| Where you buy meat |
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| Meat from the town of Ballan |
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| Generous serving of Fish n Chips |
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| Offers a wide variety |
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| For the kids |
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| Instead of flowers, why not Candy Bouquet ? |
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| Freshly baked |
