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Rippon Lea Estate

Location 192 Hotham Street,, ELSTERNWICK VIC 3185 - Property No B0005 File Number B0005 Level National

[1/6] BOOO5 Ripponlea House & [2/6] BOOO5 Ripponlea Fountain [3/6] B0005 Ripponlea Gardens & pond [4/6] BOOO5 Rippon Lea Dining Room [5/6] B0005 Ripponlea Dining Room [6/6] B0005 Elsternwick Rippon Lea

Statement of Significance

Rippon Lea is amongst the largest and most intact nineteenth century private suburban estates in Australia. Exceptional for its extent and quality, this estate was created and developed by Frederick Sargood, a prominent Victorian businessman and politician, over a period of thirty-five years. Rippon Lea was the last example of an outstanding group of polychrome brick buildings derived from the medieval architecture of Northern Italy and designed by Joseph Reed between 1864 and 1868. Of these it is the finest extant domestic example.
The property is also significant for the extensive nineteenth century basement kitchen complex, the range of bathrooms illustrative of the different periods of ownership, the comprehensive 1930's entertainment complex and intact dining room interior, the stable complex, surviving ironwork in the conservatory, port cochere and elsewhere, and elaborate water reticulation systems.

Garden Statement of Significance: Substantial garden comprising pond, fernery, fine lawns and trees and classified building.

Classified: 28/03/1963
Revised: 'State' 03/08/1998
Revised:'National' 11/08/2006
See also Garden file G13084