MOORAMONG

Mooramong, a 1560 hectare farm and homestead complex comprising a historic homestead building designed by Davidson & Henderson and built in 1873, surrounding gardens, a landscaped park, nature reserve and working farm with several outbuildings and workers’ residences, and changes made by Claire Adams Mackinnon and Donald Scobie Mackinnon from 1938. The objects integral at the place include the Mackinnon’s personal effects, artworks, photographs, crockery, glassware, ornaments, memorabilia, kitchenware, furniture and sheet music.   

Mooramong is of historical and architectural significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register:  

Criterion A 

Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria’s cultural history. 

Criterion B 

Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria’s cultural history. 

Criterion D 

Importance in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural places and objects 

Criterion H  

Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria’s history.

Mooramong is historically significant as a homestead complex for its capacity to demonstrate life on a large pastoral estate from the 1870s to the 1970s. Bequeathed to the National Trust in its entirety, its high levels of intactness and completeness of its collection developed from 1938 by high profile owners Claire Adams Mackinnon and Donald Mackinnon, makes it an outstanding example of a historic pastoral property and one of the State’s largest and most interesting house museums. [Criterion A] 

Mooramong is uncommon as a highly intact homestead complex comprising a grand residence and vast collection of objects integral, many still in situ. Located on an unusually large area of original agricultural land (1560 hectares) the place and its collection were bequeathed by owners Claire Adams Mackinnon and Donald Mackinnon to the National Trust in the 1970s so that it could be preserved in perpetuity. The place is also rare for containing a privately-owned nature reserve which was also part of the bequest [Criterion B] 

Mooramong is historically significant as a fine example of a homestead complex? and house museum. Originally built from 1873 to designs by Davidson & Henderson, the residence was renovated by several owners in the early 1900s, culminating in additions by society architect Marcus Martin. Commissioned in 1938 by Claire Adams Mackinnon and Donald Mackinnon, Martin employed a moderne style drawing on a ‘Hollywood’ aesthetic to create an art deco style bar and games room, install plush carpets and modern Formica joinery throughout, and build the first private heated swimming pool in Victoria. The residence and its collection, along with extensive farmland, multiple outbuildings, workers residences, agricultural equipment and substantial nature reserve, demonstrate the rural life of a wealthy and public-minded couple over forty years, and is now open to visitors. [Criterion D] 

Mooramong is historically significant for its association with owners Claire Adams Mackinnon and Donald Scobie Mackinnon who made a strong and influential contribution to the preservation of cultural and natural heritage in Victoria. Their bequest of Mooramong to the National Trust in its entirety has seen the development of one of the State’s largest and most interesting house museums. The Mackinnons also had an important role in the nature conservation movement in Victoria, in particular through the preservation of flora and fauna on a privately-owned nature reserve. The Mackinnon Trust of 1980 continues to fund a number of charitable beneficiaries including BirdLife Australia, School of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Murdoch Children's Research Institute. [Criterion H]