Pine Hill

“Pine Hill? Never heard of it?” you might ask. Well, you’re not alone. It’s a bit of a hidden gem in Frankston. Many know it as Bruce Manor, the 1926 home of Stanley Melbourne Bruce, Australia’s eighth Prime Minister. He built it at a cost of £20,000. Now, that’s a lot of money back then, but it was a time of plenty for Bruce. He was Prime Minister from 1923 to 1929, just as the Depression hit. That’s probably why he didn’t lose his seat in the election. You can’t really blame a fella for wanting to relax in a beautiful Spanish Mission styled mansion, can you? It was designed by the Sydney firm of architects Prevost Synnot and Rewald, in association with Robert Bell Hamilton, with a Mediterranean feel, with paved courtyards, Cordova patterned roof tiles, Juliet balconies, and timber panelled rooms. It was almost like trying to escape to a world far away from the dreary reality of everyday life. You’d think a Prime Minister would have better taste than to lose his own seat at election, but Bruce actually did it. That was one of the reasons he retired to that gorgeous estate. Think a bit about that while you gaze upon the villa. What do you think Bruce would think about it today? You see, Bruce’s manor is still impressive to this day. In fact, it had been listed for sale for a while, and you could have probably bought it for under $1 million if you’d had some extra dough to spend on renovation.