Dhurringile facts for kids
Dhurringile is a very old and important mansion in northern Victoria, Australia. It is famous for its beautiful design and its long history. The mansion is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. This means it is a special place that needs to be protected.
Dhurringile was once a large farm estate. It was known as one of Victoria's grandest homes. Over the years, it has been used for many different things. It was a home for a rich family, a camp during wartime, and a training home for boys. Today, it is part of HM Prison Dhurringile.
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Building a Grand Home
Dhurringile was built a long time ago, between 1876 and 1877. It was built for a man named James Winter. His family, the Winter-Irvings, were well-known farmers. They owned many sheep and a lot of land. The new mansion replaced an older wooden house on their property.
Design and Features
The mansion was designed by a famous architecture company from Melbourne. Their names were Lloyd Tayler and Wyatt. It was built in a style called Victorian Italianate. This style often includes towers and fancy details. Building Dhurringile cost a lot of money back then, about £30,000.
The mansion was very large, with two floors. It had between 65 and 68 rooms! Inside, there was a big entrance hall and a tall tower. Some windows were painted by hand. The staircase was carved with beautiful designs.
A Working Estate
Dhurringile was more than just a house. It was the center of a huge farm. The estate had many other buildings. There were living areas for staff, stables for horses, and a woolshed. It even had its own gasworks to make gas for lights. It was like a small village. At its busiest, the Dhurringile estate had about 50,000 sheep.
A Changing History
James Winter lived at Dhurringile until he passed away in 1885. His family owned the mansion until 1907. After that, it had several different owners. Sometimes, the mansion was empty for long periods.
During World War II
In 1939 and 1940, the Government of Australia rented Dhurringile. It was used as a camp during the early part of World War II. People of German and Italian background were held there. From 1941 to 1945, it became a camp for captured German soldiers. These soldiers were known as prisoners of war.
A Home for Boys
After the war, in 1947, the Presbyterian Church of Australia bought Dhurringile. They wanted to use it as a home for boys. These boys were young migrants from the United Kingdom. From 1951 to 1964, it was called the Dhurringile Rural Training Farm. Here, the boys learned important farming skills.
Modern Use
In 1965, the Government of Victoria bought the mansion. It was planned to become part of HM Prison Dhurringile. The historic mansion was carefully repaired by people from the prison. Today, the old mansion is used as a training center.
