Heronswood, Victoria facts for kids
Heronswood is a very old and important house located in Dromana, on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. It's known for its special Gothic Revival style, which means it looks a bit like old castles or churches with pointed arches and fancy details.
This historic house is listed on important registers like the Australian Heritage Places Register and the Victorian Heritage Register. This means it's protected because of its history and unique design. The National Trust of Australia also recognizes it, and sometimes you can even visit it!
Heronswood is at 105 Latrobe Parade, Dromana. It's right above the beach where Captain Matthew Flinders landed way back on April 27, 1802.
The Amazing Gardens at Heronswood
The gardens at Heronswood are just as special as the house! When the house was first built, a man named William Moat helped create the large lawns and gardens. He planted many rare trees from different parts of the world, and some of them are still growing strong today.
One of the most impressive trees you can see is a cape chestnut. It's a beautiful tree that has been there since the very early days. William Moat also planted an orchard (a place with fruit trees) and many pine trees, some of which are still standing tall.
These gardens are so important that they are mentioned in a famous book called the Oxford Companion to Gardens. This book talks about garden design from all over the world, and Heronswood is one of only four gardens from Victoria to be included!
Justice Henry Bourne Higgins and Heronswood
After its first owner, Heronswood was sold to a university professor named Alexander Sutherland. Then, in 1903, it was bought by his good friend, H. B. Higgins. Higgins had actually been taught by the house's first owner!
H. B. Higgins was a very important person in Australian history. He was a powerful politician and even the Federal Attorney General. While living at Heronswood, he wrote something called the Harvester Judgement. This was a huge step for workers in Australia because it helped make sure they got a fair basic wage. It became the foundation of Australia's system for settling disagreements about pay and working conditions.
Justice Higgins loved Heronswood. On January 13, 1929, he went for his usual morning walk to Arthur's Seat, a nearby mountain. When he was younger, he even used to swim every morning at Anthony's Nose! After his walk, he read on the porch. Later that evening, he sadly passed away at Heronswood. The Australian flag was lowered to half-mast at the Trades Hall in Melbourne to honor him. He was buried in the Dromana cemetery.
Heronswood and Bushfires
Even historic homes like Heronswood have faced challenges. On February 5, 1912, a big bushfire happened near Arthur's Seat. Many homes in Dromana were destroyed.
Newspapers reported that the fire swept through the area. People worked very hard to save houses. For a few hours, it was unclear if Heronswood would survive the flames. But, thanks to everyone's efforts, the fire was finally stopped before it reached the house. Fires continued to burn in other areas, but Heronswood was safe.
