The land boom in Marvellous Melbourne came in 1883-1891 era which saw the price of land start to thrive. Naturally London banks were eager to extend loans to entrepreneurs who capitalised on this with grand, elaborate offices, hotels and department shops in the thriving city, and beautiful suburban growth nearby.
Cumnock Parkville was designed by Charles Webb who was the famed architect behind many Melbourne landmark buildings: Windsor, Royal Arcade, Mandeville Hall, Melbourne Grammar School and South Melbourne Town Hall. Cumnock is a fine example of an Italianate mansion much loved in the late 1800s over Melbourne. It was completed in 1889 for stock-and-station agent George Howat, then acquired in 1919 by Ridley College, a Christian theological college affiliated with Melbourne University.
Cumnock Mansion and tower, Melbourne University Parkville
Realestate
The home had been used by the university as a residence but was now not needed. It’s been renovated since the university bought new fixtures, fittings and amenities throughout, but now it’s sitting vacant. The listing comes c6 months after the university committed to repay $72m in wages to staff it underpaid between 2014-24. With grand proportions and flexible spaces, now it might be repurposed as consulting rooms or executive space, subject to council approval.
Set over two levels, Cumnock includes 11 principal rooms, 9 original fireplaces, two staircases, wine cellar and turreted viewing tower. Cumnock’s elegant living rooms showcase Victorian grandeur with bay windows, and park outlooks. A two-zoned bathroom, powder room and full laundry are on ground floor. Upstairs a spacious rumpus room opens to a wraparound balcony and the turret’s lookout, with sweeping views over the park.
foyer with soaring ceilings and Corinthian columns (above)
stained glass window (below)
Realestate
Cumnock’s marble-draped, state-of-the-art kitchen and dual staircases blend Victorian elegance with contemporary luxury. Preserved period details include an entry hall/foyer with soaring ceilings and flanked by Corinthian columns that greet residents and guests upon entry. Expansive formal and informal living zones feature high ceilings, bay windows and ornate period features. Melbourne University’s Parkville mansion Cumnock, grand gardens and heritage design.
landscaped gardens, private courtyard, pond, alfresco terrace
1376sq m, Realestate
Inside there are stained-glass windows, archways and decorative cornicing. Key living spaces include a formal dining room with garden views, a grand sitting room, library or home office, custom cabinetry and an expansive meals area opening via French doors to a sun-drenched alfresco terrace. Set on 1376sq m, the landscaped gardens include a private courtyard with a fishpond centre-piece, surrounded by leafy landscaping.
Dr Leon Morris became Vice Principal of Ridley College in 1945. In his 15 years as Principal he built up the college, created the new chapel, and saw Ridley become the first Uni college to have male and female residential students. He was made a member of the University Council in 1977, and loved retreating to his tower in his residence of Cumnock to study or contemplate.
Dr Leon Morris became Vice Principal of Ridley College in 1945. In his 15 years as Principal he built up the college, created the new chapel, and saw Ridley become the first Uni college to have male and female residential students. He was made a member of the University Council in 1977, and loved retreating to his tower in his residence of Cumnock to study or contemplate.
Ridley College reopened Cumnock Mansion to provide accommodation for international students from the University of Melbourne in 2005. Then Prof Duncan Maskell was a biochemist and academic who specialised in molecular microbiology and bacterial infectious diseases. He became vice-chancellor Melbourne University in 2018 and was given Cumnock House as his home. This year he resigned, and the house went on the market.
I want this house! But my family only needs 2 bedrooms, one storey and a cheap price gggrr. Can the university reach the suggested $8m-$8.7m price guide?
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26 comments:
There are some wonderful homes around with lovely gardens and so much space and I do like looking at such homes, buildings and gardens but I also will think while looking at them about how much work it would take to keep them clean and tidy.
Hello Hels, Cumnock Mansion is in one of my very favorite styles, the Villa style. It looks different from American Italian Villas, not only because it is in Australia, but most U.S. houses in this general style were built from around 1840-1870, and Cumnock is a little later. The outside is very pleasant, but those interior photos are a little frightening--there seem to be no original surfaces from the 19th century, and no attempt at all to respect this as an old house. Although I would love to live there, in addition to the $8 million, probably one would need half as much again to undo the renovation damage, and even then I doubt the very much inside would be original or old. Too bad, but also increasingly the usual story!
--Jim
p.s. I just looked at the listing photos and almost threw up! Why oh why do people buy an old house just to install all this hideous new garbage in it! That's what McMansion are for!! I hate literally every inch of the interior of this house--what an indignity to befall such a beautiful old house.
Cumnock is a stunning dream home full of history and grandeur, but with its $8–$8.7M price tag and palatial scale, it’s far beyond the needs (and budget!) of a two-bedroom family
Big houses are fine, but maintaining them is very difficult.
Superbly transformed from double-storey brick stable to sensational 3 bedroom domain, this unique corner residence (c1888) opens to a secluded entertainment courtyard and off-street parking just metres to Princes and Royal Parks, and Queen Victoria Markets. Formerly part of the rich Boom-time estate of nearby Cumnock mansion.
Jo-Anne
I wonder if the university looked after its properties from the beginning (1919) so that academics, religious colleges and students didn't have to worry about painting, gardening etc. I hope so.
Parnassus
the original outside was maintained perfectly but Heritage Protection doesn't seem to stop changes to furniture, cupboards, carpets, curtains etc. To me, the ugliest part is the _harsh white colour_ on every wall. Even when early Victorian homes no longer liked dark colours, later Victorian homes used creams, light grey and pastels.
roentare
I want to live there for 3 important reasons:
a] my mother, father and I all received our degrees from Melbourne Uni.
b] when the Jews arrived from Europe in the 1930s and 40s, most moved straight to Carlton and Parkville. The synagogues and kosher shops were all within walking distance. And
c] Victorian homes were well protected in this part of Melbourne, so I spent the best part of my young life in living with grandparents and aunts, examining the architecture in their homes.
Pradeep Nair
*nod* Affording mansions like Cumnock is beyond most couples, and maintaining them keeps the costs going for ever. Sadly housing is becoming more and more out of reach, even for ordinary houses.
Domain
Thank you... I had no idea about the stables. Those land spaces must have been very large in the early days.
What an exquisite place! Are you sure you only need 2 bedrooms? I think you should buy it.
I had the privilege of encountering two grand old homes in Johannesburg, both designed by Sir Herbert Baker. The first was the main house at Arcadia (the Jewish children's home in Johannesburg). It was sold in 2002 to an insurance company Holland Insurance and the main house now holds an art collection.
Next door is the Pines where I had the privilege of working in the main house. This is another Sir Herbert Baker building and is quite exquisite. I believe there are still offices on the grounds.
Obviously both houses inspired my love of architecture and history. I hope that the Cumnock mansion meets a similar future and is bought by someone who will retain its beauty and historic importance
Mandy
Excellent! I found Arcadia very easily and I have to admire Sir Herbert Baker's designs. Appropriately he was called the major force in South African architecture for years!
What is interesting to me was that a house that displays a very long veranda, and divided by so many arches, might be too large for a single house. So it is excellent that the building was used for a children's home, art gallery etc.
Our second bedroom would be a study with desk and computer, and 2 collapsible bunks for visiting family from overseas.
Wardlow is another wonderful Australian house located in Parkville. John Boyes built this house in boom style Italianate architecture in 1888 and is listed by the Victorian National Trust. The area must have been very impressive.
Joe
Wardlow was big, wasn't it? John and Mary Boyes had four children, so they fitted into this lovely home: https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/2604
But then they built five other neighbouring houses, a real estate space that still exists and is National Trust Heritage registered.
That would be a great house to live in, especially having the turret. I just hope whoever bought it didn't change it for the worst. There is a house down my street that I always thought I would love to live in, and when it went on sale (way too much for my budget) I was able to look at the photos on the real estate page. Didn't they change up the inside of this lovely old farmhouse and make it all modern? Have a super new week Hels.
Erika
although noone wanted to pull down beautiful old homes, _formal_ Heritage Protection for our houses began largely with the creation of Australian Council of National Trusts in 1965. Once the law was behind Heritage Protection, it was much harder for nasty developers to destroy heritage houses.
This is a very beautiful mansion!
Irina
I love Italianate Victorian architecture in particular, so I would have selected this mansion within 30 minutes of seeing it :)
too much cleaning and it would cost all of my super to heat it . NAH
mem
I couldn't have used all that space either, even when the boys lived at home and had all their school friends on sleep-overs. But the architect, the 1889 style and the layout are still seductive. Marvellous Melbourne must have been gorgeous.
Boa noite. Uma excelente segunda-feira com muita paz e saúde. Fico feliz em saber que você gostou do Parque das Águas de São Lourenço. Ainda faltam dos parques de águas minerais.
Luiz
our heritages come from two different sources
1. nature, climate, native animals, water supply, vegetation, geology etc. Thus our mineral spa parks may be very similar.
2. Human designed architecture, metalwork, farming, landscape gardening etc. Yours may be inspired by totally different sources from ours
What a beautiful house! It's a pity it's just a little too big for you ;-)
What a fascinating look into the history and grandeur of Cumnock Mansion! The architectural details, from the Corinthian columns to the stained-glass windows, truly reflect the elegance of the era. It’s incredible to think about how this mansion, once a grand residence, has evolved over time, and now stands as a piece of Melbourne's heritage. The panoramic views from the turret and the beautifully landscaped gardens make it such a remarkable property. I can only imagine the stories the walls could tell, especially with its ties to Ridley College and Melbourne University. It’s a shame to think of it sitting vacant now, but it’s heartening to know it may find new purpose in the future.
As much as I’d love to have a place like this, I completely understand your point about needing something more practical! It’s hard to balance dream homes with real-life needs, especially when price guides are that high!
On a different note, I recently wrote about body confidence and how it influences our sense of self. It ties into how we navigate our personal space and growth in a meaningful way. Here’s the link to my latest post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2025/05/body-confident-you-body-confident-kid-book-review.html
Handmade
When I retired from the workforce during COVID, I was already over 70 and could move straight onto my superannuation savings. But we desperately needed to downsize. So as long as the next house is Victorian and has a front yard and garden, a small house will be perfect ☺️
Melody
Not only does the Victorian Italianate architecture still give a thrill. But the location next to Melbourne University and the beautiful parklands is still the centre of learned Australia.
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