Rupertswood facts for kids
Rupertswood is a huge house, also called a mansion, and a large country property. It is located in Sunbury, which is just outside Melbourne in Victoria, Australia.
Rupertswood is famous for being the place where The Ashes urn was created. This special cricket trophy was humorously given to the English cricket captain, Ivo Bligh, to celebrate his team's win in a cricket series between Australia and England back in 1882-83. Rupertswood is one of the biggest houses ever built in Victoria. Even though some of its land has been sold off, it still has a lot of farmland. The property even had its own private train station until 2004! It also had a small artillery battery, which is a place for cannons. Today, Rupertswood is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical site.
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Building Rupertswood
The first stone for Rupertswood was put in place on August 29, 1874. About 1,000 people came to watch this important event. The house was finished in 1876. It was built for Sir William Clarke, who was a very rich landowner and farmer. He was one of Australia's wealthiest people and the first Australian-born baronet, which is a special title given by the King or Queen.
The house was designed by a local architect named George L. Browne. He designed it in a style called "Free Classical." This style often uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Rupertswood Through the Years
New Owners and a School
In 1925, the Rupertswood property was sold to Hugh Victor McKay. He was a rich businessman and inventor. He created the "Sunshine Harvester," a very important farming machine. When McKay passed away in 1926, Rupertswood was bought by another farmer named William Naughton.
Then, in 1927, a group called the Salesian Society bought Rupertswood. They used the mansion and its land as a boarding school for boys. Over time, the school started to accept both boys and girls, becoming co-educational. It later moved to different buildings nearby and is now known as Salesian College, Rupertswood.
The Ashes Re-enactment
In March 2006, the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay came to the area. This was a special event where a baton travels around the world before the games. During its visit, a fun re-enactment happened at Rupertswood. People acted out the moment when The Ashes were first given to the English cricket team. A small crowd from the local area came to watch.
What is Rupertswood Now?
The mansion was carefully fixed up with the help of an interior designer named Jacqui Robertson. She was an expert in old Victorian buildings. After its restoration, Rupertswood became a hotel. It was often used for weddings and other big events. However, it closed as a hotel in 2014. All the furniture and items inside the mansion were sold off in an auction in July 2014. Today, the building is used as offices for Salesian College.
