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St Albans Homestead

Location

305 Wilsons Road, WHITTINGTON VIC 3219 - Property No B3978

File Number

B3978

Level

State

[1/5]
B3978 St Albans Homestead
[2/5]
B3978 Bay Window
[3/5]
B3978 Interior Window Seat
[4/5]
B3978 Servant's Quarters
[5/5]
B3978 Coach House

Statement of Significance

St Albans Homestead at Whittington, a single storey 30-roomed brick mansion, was erected in 1873 for the noted race horse breeder and trainer James Wilson. The Melbourne architect James T Conlan designed the extensive homestead in the fashionable polychromatic mode with an elaborate cast iron verandah by Geelong foundry men Humble & Co.
There were additions to the homestead in 1875 designed by Conlan and in 1878, alterations and additions designed by Conlan and Salway. The homestead was identified as a significant building in the Geelong Regional Commission Study. The integrity of the property is high. St Albans has both historical and architectural significance for the following reasons:
(1) it is a most distinctive work of the architect JT Conlan.
(2) it is of significance as one of the leading horse racing studs in Australia in the late 19th century.
(3) many Melbourne cup runners were trained on the St Albans track. The legendary Phar Lap stayed briefly at St Albans stud in 1930 on the eve of his celebrated Melbourne Cup victory.
Adapted from Heritage Victoria Statement: 21/05/2012
Classified: 26/10/1978
Revised: 03/08/1998

Group