Hi Alvin. I've haven't been able to stop thinking about BB since watching your vlog. I've read everything I can find and am currently seeing if I can access a Masters thesis written about BB. As yet, there has not be any movement at the property to begin the preservation and development of BB. I keep checking the website for updates as advised by the community liason officer for the project, but so far nothing. While reading about BB, I found out about the neighboring property Strathalbyn. It was also designed by Norris and build for Afred's son Maurice and his wife who did live there, but it has since been sold out of the family. Have you ever been there?

We stayed there on our wedding night in 1990. It was bought not long after that by a hotel company that was going to renovate it and turn it into an "all suite hotel", but it started and was never finished. It was, in 1990, still a beautiful building. The gardens still are magnificent. It is such a shame it is now in limbo.

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How can the owners just let this beautiful mansion sit empty and decaying in such a spectacular setting as this. A complete waste! It's part of history for the Dandenongs and Victoria. What's the point of keeping the gardens well manicured, yet the inside of the mansion is left to rot. It needs to be restored before it's too late to do anything. Just imagine it done up into a historic hotel, keeping that 1930s ambience and peacefulness. I'm sure that being on the outskirts of Melbourne, it would do very good business, especially for weddings and other celebrations. I can't help but seeing this glorious building literally just wasting away when there are so many people homeless and desperate for a roof over their heads. It could be turned into an artist's retreat or something similar. A lovely restaurant and a tea-house. The mansion looks as if it belongs down in the wealthy suburbs of Melbourne and seems a tad out of place here. Although, it could be added to tours of the Dandenongs along with Puffing Billy, William Ricketts Sanctuary and the many other lovely places to visit. Please, do not let this piece of history fade away!🇦🇺💖👩🏼‍🎨

Interesting

Where Is This.

I grew up in the Dandenong Ranges. My grandfather was the local doctor. No matter what he did, the police were told not to pull him up. He was a terrible driver, but he was the doc, and he was delivering babies, and he was very fond of the local vagabonds! Anti-war, and a lover of classical music. If you didn't like it then he knew where you stood 😂❤. Elef Jorgensen

Victoria has so many unique and beautiful sites. Love seeing gardens like this being preserved and can also be enjoyed by the general public. Hope the building can be preserved and reused too. Tx for sharing

My husband and I had our honeymoon there in 1985 and it was magnificent. I also knew someone who used to go up there for summer holiday with the Nicholls family and their son. Long time ago.

Such a beautiful home but I think the murals of the girl spoils it.

What a terrible waste of accommodation. The gardens are superb.

My fiance and I had a meal there in 1979 to celebrate our engagement... magnificent building such a pity it can't be restored and used as a tourist attraction

Make a good set for another crap vampire mivie or some drug baron movie a decaying rock band film a glorious motel abd reception center hmmm who mowes the lawns cause sumone is

Is that joint near the Royal botanical gardens in Melbourne Victoria Australia

Stayed there in 1988 with my husband. Beautiful architecture and gardens. The meals were superb. The staff gave us raw meet to feed the kookaburras out on the balcony each morning. Hope someone gives it life again. It’s such an iconic house.

Remarkable, how lavish, far more so than what is visible in our hometown Napier, NZ. Rebuilt Art Deco & Spanish Bungalow after 1931 earthquake … 100 years on, the bones are still good 🙏🏼😇

Excellent video, I’m surprised that the vandals haven’t trashed the old homestead? Someone must be keeping an eye on the property, or is it too far away for the idiots to get to? Cheers from Downunder 🦘🦘🦘❤️🇦🇺

Beautiful Waterfall style Art Deco house. My favourite style of Art Deco architecture

Humanity, as a species is all too often so wasteful & neglectful.

My husband and I got married here in the gardens down where the boat shed is in 1986……so 38 years ago! (Still married 2024). We were on a tight budget and paid $25.00 to have our wedding there. The wedding party was on one island while the guest stood over the bridge on the other island. There were ducks swimming around us and all the cherry blossom trees were in flower, (October) it was truly the most beautiful setting one could even dream about. Have taken my children there and also my grand children. Very fond memories 🥰

What a waste. It’s seems strange that it was to the people of Victoria but sold to a private buyers🤷‍♀️

It looks haunted, big places creep me out 😮but still looks beautiful.

The beams on the bridge don’t look 85 years old and the have new metal bolts gleaming in them! But it is a wonderful place. A shame the owners turned to cocaine dealing there!

Absolutely fabulous Alvin. What a masterpiece. Such a waste that it wasn't made better use of. It's hard to believe no-one would want to bring it back up to scratch and live there, it's such a perfect, secluded location. If only I had the money. I guess a lot of the interior is spoiled after it was used for research. Thank you.

Theres a beautiful old house in Coburg, the Grange , well worth the look of an old traditional dairy which would have been originally on the outskirts of melbourne , under heritage ..xx enjoy

That's beautiful? 🤮

Such a fabulous memory of Christmas lunch at bernham beeches ❤

Beautifull reserve enjoyed your video sad about the mansion

I think this would make an mazing rehab facility or something. The house is kinda ugly to be honest be much nicer if it Victorian design the gardens are something else though. 😊

Absolutely exquisite. I just want to live in this sort of rainforest I'm not a fan of the Australian bush mostly certainly the not the dry dead summer sort of outback bush but I could live here forever ❤️

Thanks, that was great.

What a great example of art deco and opulent work and detail what a sad end

Exquisite! A true rare gem! Beautifully captured, the garden reflection and all. Thank you, best thing I've seen on YT in many years!

What’s the bet there is a “mystery fire” and the owner/developer subdivides and makes a fortune. Seems to be the fate of all heritage listed buildings in Australia.

Who own this house

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Doesnt look forgotten. Looks like a tour trap. I stayed in a mansion on Grandview Grove very similar. Separated into apartments.

Really interesting thank you for bringing this to our attention

Those murals were amazing

Wonder if it’s legal to send a camera drone in? 🤷🏻‍♂😉

I have always loved these gardens I love the Dandenongs. I used to walk around the fence line just like you did and ponder just why this beautiful home is empty. Thank you 🙏❤

Such an incredible piece of Australian History, praying it will be preserved.

Tailem Town Pioneer Village, Tailem Bend.

My parents had a vacum just like that one.

Thankyou for your very natural and interesting walk through and presentation. Appreciated.

Had a couple of meals there when it was running as a restaurant and accommodation in the 80's... Spectacular property and great food. I believe Shannon Bennett of Vue De Monde bought the property in 2010 and sold in 2022 not acting on the investment so the aging and neglect is recent and not of a forgotten gem. Was always known as the Aspro house by anyone who grew up around the Dandenongs. Great to see it again. Thank you.

My cousin was a waiter there many years ago. My brother stayed there on his wedding night.

I visited the Alfred Nicholas Gardens many times and in many different seasons. The walk down to the lake is spectacular and reasonably easy - the walk back up gives you a good workout, Apparently the boathouse on the lake is said to be the most photographed spot on Mt Dandenong. I was also lucky enough to visit the Empire Exhibition by street artist Rone which finally got me into the mansion which I'd only seen through the fence before. Walking through the rooms and experiencing his immersive recreation/vision of a vanished time was dreamlike. Each room was set up as I'd the people who lived there had suddenly left - leaving everything as it was. Rone added the extra touch of making it look as if nature (twigs, webs, leaves) was slowly claiming the mansion. Atmospheric music was especially composed and piped throughout (mostly cello and violin) which made the walkabout a truly mesmerizing, melancholic and unforgettable experience. It is a special place. Thank you for posting this video, Brought back welcome memories.

Such a pity that in Australia buildings like this that form part of our history are just let go to rack and ruin. Europe is a lot older, but at least they preserve their history! Someone Government or whoever should do something with this beautiful building and preserve it and the surrounding park!

I spent my wedding night at Burnham Beeches in 1988> it was a stnning example of Art d Decfo architechture