Whispers of lavish parties and fortunes made on goldfields echo here at Rippon Lea Estate. This heritage-listed estate in Elsternwick is cared for by the National Trust of Australia. It’s a window into Melbourne’s opulent past.
Sir Frederick Sargood, a businessman and philanthropist, created Rippon Lea Estate. In 1868, he and his wife Marion bought 11 hectares of land. They were just outside Melbourne’s built-up area. Sargood named the property after his mother Emma Rippon. He added “lea”, an old English word for meadow.
Joseph Reed designed the two-story, 15-room house. Elaborate gardens surrounded the house. Glasshouses, vegetable gardens, and orchards were added later. The gardens were designed to be self-sufficient. A large man-made lake collected storm water. By the late 1870s, Rippon Lea spanned 18 hectares. The kitchen garden alone covered 0.81 hectares.
The house’s style is “Lombardic Romanesque”. Joseph Reed coined this term. He was inspired by the architecture of northern Italy’s Lombardy region. The house was extended several times. One change was converting the conservatory into a ballroom. It could hold 500 people. A huge shade house for palm trees was also added. The Sargoods hosted many parties here.
Rippon Lea Estate was one of the first in Australia with electricity. It had its own generators. A full-time electrician maintained the system. An electric bell system connected the house to the servant’s quarters.
After Frederick’s death in 1903, the property was sold. Developers planned to demolish the house. They wanted to subdivide the land. However, the consortium leader, Sir Thomas Bent, died. The property was put back on the market in 1910.
Ben and Agnes Nathan bought Rippon Lea. They owned the Maples furniture stores. The Nathans lived there until Ben’s death in 1935. Their daughter Louisa inherited the property.
Louisa renovated the house extensively. She wanted to entertain on a lavish scale. The interior was redecorated. However, some Victorian features were left intact. The Sargood’s ballroom was demolished. A Hollywood-style swimming pool and ballroom were built. The 5.7 hectares of gardens were maintained.
In 1954, a section of the property was sold to the ABC. This was in preparation for the 1956 Olympic Games. The Rippon Lea studios became the ABC’s Melbourne home. Programs like Bellbird and Countdown were produced here.
In 1963, the government planned to acquire more of the garden. Louisa fought this in court. She eventually agreed to bequeath the house and land to the National Trust upon her death. This ensured it would remain intact. She died in 1972. The house opened to the public in 1974.
The lake and fernery are notable features. So is the swimming pool and stable complex. The basement kitchen complex is also of special interest. It was built in the 1880s. It was abandoned in 1938. It is a rare example of a 19th-century kitchen suite. It includes a kitchen, scullery, pantries, cool rooms, and a wine cellar.
Today Rippon Lea Estate stands as a testament to eras gone by. Each room tells a story of wealth, innovation, and the changing face of Melbourne society. As you explore, remember the Sargoods, the Nathans, and Louisa Jones. They each shaped this remarkable place. Their stories are etched into the very fabric of Rippon Lea.