Fernleigh Street, Newtown
Vic 3220
Phone : (03) 5221 3906
Fax : (03) 5224 2253
Mob : 0407 504 262
email : JenniferBantow@bigpond.com

Barwon Grange is an elegant intact brick villa, built in 1855 for merchant Jonathan Porter O'Brien who had emigrated from Liverpool. The architecture is Picturesque Gothic Revival with steep gables and unusual decorative timber bargeboards and verandah parapet. The interior contains early Victorian antique furniture and objects collected according to an 1856 auction inventory. The garden, with lawns sloping towards the Barwon River, is reconstructed with plant species derived from 19th century catalogues.

Barwon Grange as a whole entity is an historically and culturally significant property. It is a surviving example of a Geelong riverside residence from early settlement. Its significance is derived from the property's siting on the river, its resultant views and its historical links with the broader history of Geelong. This significance is also strongly supported by the architectural integrity of the house and the quality of its preservation.

Refreshments : Devonshire teas or Victorian delicacies based on Mrs Isabella Beeton's 1860s recipes are a speciality. Pre-booking is necessary.
Student and adult educational tours most welcome, background notes and teachers kits available.
Industrial riverside heritage tours can be arranged.
River cruises combined with house tours available.
Self-guided garden walk included in entry price.
Croquet also included.
Picnics in the garden.