Rupertswood

Have you ever heard the story of the Ashes? The original Ashes urn, that is? Rupertswood is where the famous Ashes urn was born. Built in 1876 for Sir William Clarke, Rupertswood was a grand mansion and estate not far from Melbourne. It featured a 100-foot-tall tower, a mansard roof, and a widow’s walk. The Clarke family hosted many lavish events: hunts, balls, and house parties. Guests arrived by train at the estate’s own private railway station. This large and opulent estate was completed in 1876 and became one of the biggest houses in Victoria, Australia. Sir William Clarke was a successful landowner and pastoralist who was one of the wealthiest men in Australia at the time. But it was during a social game of cricket at Rupertswood in 1882 that the Ashes urn was born. In this game, the English cricket team faced off against a team of local players. The English triumphed, and to commemorate their victory, the English team was gifted a wooden urn containing the ashes of a burnt cricket bail. This became the origin of the Ashes, which is the famous trophy that is awarded to the winning team in the series of Test matches played every two years between Australia and England. Rupertswood has a rich sporting heritage. In March 2006, the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay even travelled to the area. A re-enactment of the handing over of the Ashes to the English team took place there, right in front of a small crowd. Rupertswood was sold in 1925 and became a private school, but the mansion has since been restored and is now used as an administration office for the Salesian College. Rupertswood: a beautiful mansion with a fascinating history, a place where the Ashes were born.