MOUNT ROTHWELL HOMESTEAD

Mount Rothwell Homestead, designed by P. Colquhuoun, is a single storeyed bluestone simple Italianate style residence built in 1872 for Robert Chirnside, nephew of the famous Thomas and Andrew Chirnside from Werribee Park.

Mount Rothwell Homestead is of architectural and historic significance to Victoria.

Mount Rothwell Homestead is important as a representative of successful pastoral activities during the nineteenth century that has continued to be the way of life for several generations of the Chirnside family. The building is historically significant for its associations with Robert Chirnside and other members of his family, who held extensive land holdings throughout the Colony during the nineteenth century and were considered one of the leading pastoral families.

The residence, which is of considerable size on a large land holding, is architecturally significant as an essentially intact example of a nineteenth century pastoral home. It displays rare decorative schemes in the form of elaborate plasterwork and painted and stencilled artwork on the ceilings and walls of several main areas.