Werribee Park
Encyclopedia
Werribee Park is the estate of a historical building in Werribee, Victoria, Australia. It includes Werribee Park Mansion, the Victoria State Rose Garden, formal gardens, the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre, the Werribee Open Range Zoo
, a contemporary sculpture walk and a natural riverine which is being grown with the plants of the Kurung Jang Balluk clan who lived on Werribee River
. There is also the Mansion Hotel and Conference Centre. The Park was purchased by the Victoria State Government in 1973. It was opened as a tourist attraction in 1977. It is run by Parks Victoria.
Werribee Park Mansion was built by pastoralists Andrew Chirnside and Thomas Chirnside
between 1874 and 1877 in the Italianate style. Its residential and working buildings supported a large farm workforce. The rooms open to the public include the billiardroom, the main bedrooms, the reception rooms and part of the kitchen. When Thomas Chirnside committed suicide, some of the property was passed on to George Chirnside, thus building the Manor in the 1890s. From 1923 to 1973, the Mansion was a Catholic
seminary
, Corpus Christi College
. The wings which are now the Mansion Hotel were added during that period. In 1996, episodes, set in England
, of the television series The Genie From Down Under
were shot at the mansion. Also most rooms in the house were used for an American based film called, The Pirate Movie
starring Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins from The Blue Lagoon
. The mansion was also used in the 1976 film The Devil's Playground.
In December 2007, the Werribee Park Mansion hosted two Elton John
concerts as part of his Rocket Man Solo Tour
.
Every year the Werribee Mansion Grounds are used to host the Werribee Christmas Carols event.
. The Victoria State Rose Garden Supporters are responsible for the care and maintenance of the roses. The roses are grouped into 4 sections. The earliest, opened in 1986, is in the shape of a Tudor rose with 5 petals. It contains 252 different roses from all over the world. The Australian Federation Leaf contains 60 different Australian bred roses introduced in the 19th century. It was opened in 2000. The Heritage border, along two sides of the garden, contains 250 types of old and species roses. It was opened in 2000. The David Austin Bud, opened in 2001, contains 48 roses from this British rose breeder. Admission is free. It received a 'Garden of Excellence Award' from the World Federation of Rose Societies in 2003.
a community group was formed in 2010 to look after the orchard.
The aims of Werribee Park Heritage Orchard are:
and the World Polo
Championships. It was officially opened in 1984 as the designated State Centre for equestrian activity. Before 1992, it was operated by the Werribee Park Corporation and was used by the Victorian Polo Association and the Equestrian Federation of Australia
, Victorian Branch. In 1992, the facility was leased for 21 years to the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre Inc. This association comprises representatives of these two bodies.
Prince Charles once played polo at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre.
is one of three zoos run by Zoos Victoria. It contains animals from Africa such as rhino, giraffe, antelope, zebra, lions and hippo.
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee Open Range Zoo is an African themed zoo in Werribee, about south-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is part of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board or 'Zoos Victoria' which also includes Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. It is situated on approximately and is located on...
, a contemporary sculpture walk and a natural riverine which is being grown with the plants of the Kurung Jang Balluk clan who lived on Werribee River
Werribee River
The Werribee River is located on the plain west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The headwaters of a tributary, the Lerderderg River, are north of Ballan near Daylesford and it flows across the basalt plain, through the suburb of Werribee to enter Port Phillip. A linear park follows the Werribee...
. There is also the Mansion Hotel and Conference Centre. The Park was purchased by the Victoria State Government in 1973. It was opened as a tourist attraction in 1977. It is run by Parks Victoria.
Werribee Park Mansion
Thomas Chirnside
Thomas Chirnside was an Australian pastoralist who developed much of what would become western Melbourne.Thomas Chirnside was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, the elder son of Robert Chirnside and Mary Fairs. His father was also a farmer....
between 1874 and 1877 in the Italianate style. Its residential and working buildings supported a large farm workforce. The rooms open to the public include the billiardroom, the main bedrooms, the reception rooms and part of the kitchen. When Thomas Chirnside committed suicide, some of the property was passed on to George Chirnside, thus building the Manor in the 1890s. From 1923 to 1973, the Mansion was a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Melbourne
Corpus Christi College is the regional seminary of the Roman Catholic dioceses in Victoria and Tasmania, Australia. The seminary is administered by a board of Episcopal Trustees comprising the Archbishops of Melbourne and Hobart, the Bishops of Ballarat, Sandhurst and Sale, and the Auxiliary...
. The wings which are now the Mansion Hotel were added during that period. In 1996, episodes, set in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, of the television series The Genie From Down Under
The Genie From Down Under
The Genie From Down Under is an Australian children's comedy television series. It was a co-production between the ACTF, the BBC and the ABC from 1996 to 1998...
were shot at the mansion. Also most rooms in the house were used for an American based film called, The Pirate Movie
The Pirate Movie
The Pirate Movie is a 1982 musical and comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Christopher Atkins and Kristy McNichol. The film is loosely based on Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera The Pirates of Penzance. The original music score is composed by Mike Brady and Peter Sullivan...
starring Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins from The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon (1980 film)
The Blue Lagoon is a 1980 American romance and adventure film directed by Randal Kleiser. The screenplay by Douglas Day Stewart was based on the novel The Blue Lagoon by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. The film stars Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins...
. The mansion was also used in the 1976 film The Devil's Playground.
In December 2007, the Werribee Park Mansion hosted two Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
concerts as part of his Rocket Man Solo Tour
Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits
Rocket Man: The Definitive Hits is a compilation album by Elton John featuring 13 number one songs and a number of bonus tracks and live renditions...
.
Every year the Werribee Mansion Grounds are used to host the Werribee Christmas Carols event.
Victoria State Rose Garden
The Victoria State Rose Garden is managed by Parks VictoriaParks Victoria
-Department:Parks Victoria was established in December 1996 as a statutory authority, reporting to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change. The Parks Victoria Act 1998 makes Parks Victoria responsible for managing national parks, reserves and other land under the control of the state,...
. The Victoria State Rose Garden Supporters are responsible for the care and maintenance of the roses. The roses are grouped into 4 sections. The earliest, opened in 1986, is in the shape of a Tudor rose with 5 petals. It contains 252 different roses from all over the world. The Australian Federation Leaf contains 60 different Australian bred roses introduced in the 19th century. It was opened in 2000. The Heritage border, along two sides of the garden, contains 250 types of old and species roses. It was opened in 2000. The David Austin Bud, opened in 2001, contains 48 roses from this British rose breeder. Admission is free. It received a 'Garden of Excellence Award' from the World Federation of Rose Societies in 2003.
Werribee Park Heritage Orchard
Werribee Park Heritage Orchard is a beautiful antique orchard dating from the 1870s. It was renowned for its peaches, grapes, apples, quinces, pears, a variety of plums and several other fruits, as well as walnuts and olives. Over the past few decades the orchard was forgotten and - through neglect - fell into ruin. Recently this historic treasure was rediscovered. Some of the old heritage fruit varieties survive - mainly quince, pear and apple. In partnership with Parks VictoriaParks Victoria
-Department:Parks Victoria was established in December 1996 as a statutory authority, reporting to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change. The Parks Victoria Act 1998 makes Parks Victoria responsible for managing national parks, reserves and other land under the control of the state,...
a community group was formed in 2010 to look after the orchard.
The aims of Werribee Park Heritage Orchard are:
- To provide support for and to foster public awareness of the orchard.
- To assist with the preservation and enhancement of the orchard and with special projects selected by the group in consultation with Parks Victoria and other major stakeholders.
- To involve people with an interest in the orchard.
Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre
The Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre is an international standard sporting facility for equestrian events, including EquitanaEquitana
Equitana is a trade fair organization for equestrian sports. This bi-annual trade fair first opened in 1972 in Essen, Germany, and holds events in Germany, the United States, and Australia.-Germany:The 2009 fair was held on 14–21 March at Essen fairground...
and the World Polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
Championships. It was officially opened in 1984 as the designated State Centre for equestrian activity. Before 1992, it was operated by the Werribee Park Corporation and was used by the Victorian Polo Association and the Equestrian Federation of Australia
Equestrian Federation of Australia
Equestrian Australia , originally Equestrian Federation of Australia , is the national governing body for equestrian sports in that country. These sports include the FEI-recognized disciplines of dressage, eventing, show jumping, equestrian vaulting, endurance riding, reining, para-equestrian, and...
, Victorian Branch. In 1992, the facility was leased for 21 years to the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre Inc. This association comprises representatives of these two bodies.
Prince Charles once played polo at the Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre.
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee Open Range ZooWerribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee Open Range Zoo is an African themed zoo in Werribee, about south-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is part of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board or 'Zoos Victoria' which also includes Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. It is situated on approximately and is located on...
is one of three zoos run by Zoos Victoria. It contains animals from Africa such as rhino, giraffe, antelope, zebra, lions and hippo.