21 September 2024

Not Melbourne and only real estate pics but – wow ! Noorlim, near Murchison, is one of the grandest mansions in the countryside; built 1879 for local pastoralist William Winter, it’s got an arcaded verandah on two levels wrapping around three sides, the obligatory tower, then a lobby, foyer and hall all with tiled floors, and then grand stairs, three reception rooms, and an upstairs hall /billiard room, and ten bedrooms ‘in all’. The plan shows there was a separate corridor on both floors for servants, so they wouldn’t mix with family or guests, like the great English country houses. It was designed by James Gall who went on to do more mansions for the wealthy, such as the long demolished Illoura in St Kilda Road in 1890, which was similar, not as big but more elaborate and with a taller tower (last pic). Noorilim was more recently a home for late art dealer Rod Menzies, and functioned as a wedding venue. A bit too big for me.

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