Eildon Mansion

"This striking two-story, Victorian Heritage listed building, is one of Melbourne's largest Renaissance Revival style mansion.  It's central section, a Georgian dwelling, was built c1850-53 as Barham House for Edward Bernard Green.  This was barely 20 years after Melbourne was founded and it was built facing the bay on large Victorian gardens, in what was then a very classy, prestige, and one Melbourne's most popular seaside suburbs.  In 1871, renowned pioneer pastoralist, John Lang Currie purchased and remodelled the property, adding wings at both ends.  It was then renamed Eildon.  Through the years much of the property was subdivided and today the back of the building, facing Grey Street, has become its defacto front.  The original stables can be seen on the right hand side of the house in what was originally its back yard.  With changes in ownership, over the years its usage has changed.  In 1930 it was converted into a guest house and in the 1990s it became a backpackers' hotel.  In 2006 the property was bought by the non-profit Alliance Française association and after extensive renovations, is now used as its new Melbourne headquarters and French language and cultural centre."

Adam G

"This is a really cool historic place years ago when they were renovating I spent weeks here doing plumbing on the right-hand side of the entrance next to the gate the buildings are ancient stables under the floor I had to dig to put drain pipes in I felt like an archaeologist I found lots of relics most broken but they were there old bone smoking pipes glass bottles all sorts I got to crawl under the floors and in the roofs and behind the walls I know this place pretty well it's worth a look the old pubs in this area are the same but nothing like this place"

Benjamin Rogers

"Went to the Christmas festival there. Food, fashion, wine and champagne. Great architecture."

Shane 0ooo (Parallax5x5)