The History of Alton

The Historical and Botanical Significance of Alton

• Early Development of Upper Macedon
• Verdon Ownership (1874-1897)
• Hood Ownership (1897-1924)
• Whiting Ownership (1924-1927)
• George Nicholas Ownership (1927-1960)
• Shirley Nicholas Ownership (1960-1990)
• Coles Myer Ownership (1990-1997)
• Eshuys Ownership (1997 to present)

Early Development of Upper Macedon

The discovery of gold at Bendigo Creek (Sandhurst, later Bendigo) and Forest Creek (Castlemaine) in 1851 led to the settlement of Middle Gully (now Macedon), strategically located on the southern edge of the Black Forest. Tenders for the railway to Sandhurst were called in 1856 and the railhead reached Sunbury (1859), then Woodend and finally Sandhurst (1862). The massive influx of construction workers fuelled development of Middle Gully and it was finally proclaimed as the township of Macedon in 1861.

The messmate and alpine ash forests of the Mount Macedon ranges proved a rich source from sawyers and splitters fed the needs of the growing metropolis as well as mining and railway construction. By 1854 the Dodgshon Timber Mill and the Christian Timber Mill were operating on the slopes of Mount Macedon. A school opened at Mount Macedon in January 1858 to meet the needs of the growing population. Land on the ridge between the Turitable and Willimigongon Creeks was subdivided in 1857 with these generous blocks sloping away from the road (the area from Douglas Road in the south to Evesham Road in the north).

A large allotment west of Turitable Creek (lot 16, section 2) was selected by farmer Edmund Veness and purchased in April 1866. This was approached by the old track to Woodend and at its south and north-eastern tips, the allotment later formed one of the determinants of the alignment of Alton Road.

Under regulations pursuant to the Amending Land Act 1865 ten acres could be selected within a ten mile radius of a goldfield, as a means of encouraging miners to take up land and also to encourage small scale farming pursuits within a convenient distance from populous mining townships. On 31 August 1868 this distance was amended to a 30 mile radius and new regulations also provided for the issue of up to eight licenses to one person, to enable each selector to obtain 160 acres; these regulations came into effect on 2 November 1868. We know this information with some precision because in 1898 a parliamentary commission was issued to investigate allegations of improper and fraudulent land dealings of David Syme and Lands Department officers. Syme and others (including Jonathan Were, Archibald Michie and Dr Godfrey Howitt) applied for land at Mount Macedon in May-June 1869 knowing that it was some 16 miles from gold workings at Barry's Reef near Mount Blackwood. A memo by the Assistant Commissioner, Clement Hodgkinson, gave reasons for the selections:

These gentlemen desire to establish summer residences on this land, which is situated within the Macedon State Forest near the southern boundary. The timber available for saw-mill purposes having being [sic] removed from this land, I think that these applications might be favourable entertained, subject to a special condition that each licensee-be required to plant on his lot, in properly prepared ground, not less than 50 coniferous trees of such kinds as afford useful timber. Such trees, if judiciously grouped, would of course tend to the improvement of the lots with reference to the purposes for which they are wanted. This condition would also check any renewal of applications for portions of the State forest by ordinary applicants.

Were withdrew from his selection claiming that costs of clearing were too expensive. Syme went ahead with an application for 20 acres and also successfully {and illegally as the 1898 commission found) applied for the transfer of two adjoining selections of Howitt and an accountant, Fraser Johnson. Syme wrote to the Lands Department:

I may inform you that should you grant me the application I shall at once fence in the ferntree gullies on the ground so as to preserve them from destruction which is inevitable if they remain much longer unenclosed. I shall also undertake to plant any sort of trees the Board may suggest, or wish to have grown by way of experiment, and as Dr Mueller has often in his official reports to the Board referred to the climate of the fern-tree gullies as being suitable for the growing of such plants as tea, coffee, chinchonae, I promise putting myself in communication with him, and offering to test the suitability of the climate for any such plants as he might recommend to my notice. These experiments I shall be happy to carry out at my own expense.

Syme's selection totalling just over 57 acres north east of Douglas Road and the Turitable Creek was approved in August 1869 and he obtained freehold title in April 1873. He erected his summer residence, Rosenheim, on the land. This episode has been treated in some detail here as it forms a most important part of the background to the land selection and subsequent development of Alton by George Verdon.

About this time, moves to create a State Forest Nursery at Mount Macedon were being implemented. In 1871 schemes had been drawn up for the nursery and in 1872 the site, at Macedon, was selected and development commenced.

The first section of Alton Road was created by 1871 when land west of Turitable Creek was selected and access through Syme's land was surveyed. Sir George Verdon and others visited the locality early in 1874 and many blocks were selected under Section 49 of the Land Act 1869. Writing in 1895, Gisborne Gazette correspondent 'Wanderer' recalled the visit.

Mr Reid [sic for Reed], the architect, Mr Ellery, the Government astronomer, Mr Foord, of the Melbourne Mint and Sir George Verdon, having heard that land was available for selection, came to the Mount. The land is good but extremely friable, requiring a great deal of water, which is plentifully supplied from a spring on the higher ground. Sir George and his neighbour's set to work at once and clearing was commenced, care being taken to preserve, as far as possible, the indigenous shrubs for Sir George is a perfect enthusiast for everything Australia.

The Illustrated Australian News include a page of illustrations of the newly-fashionable Mount Macedon in 1874:

Holiday Rambles - Mount Macedon ... Recently several gentlemen have built summer residences there, and many more have taken up land for the same purpose. There can be little doubt but that in a few years Upper Macedon will become as great a place for summer visitors as Queenscliff or Snapper Point is at present, as it only needs to be known to be appreciated.

Alton Road rapidly became a mecca for gentlemen scientists of the Colony. Apart from Verdon other selectors in Alton Road included Robert Ellery, Joseph Reed, William Guilfoyle, E J Nansen, John Elkington, Herbert Strong and Emily McCoy (daughter of Frederick McCoy). Much prestige was given to Alton Road in 1885 when David Syme sold his property for use as a summer cottage for the Governor of Victoria. Special conditions meant a maximum of 10 acres could be selected and a special planting condition stipulated that:

The licensee shall... plant upon each and every acre of land ... at least ten useful timber trees of the following kinds, viz. Cedrus deodara, Pines of all kinds and Wellingtonia giganteas and shall foster the growth of such trees in accordance with any code of instructions that may be promulgated by the Board of Land and Works.

Many of the blocks thus selected were later put up for sale with a valuation for improvements and the results of this sale process were shown on a composite plan of special allotments, lithographed by the Department of Lands and Survey in April 1876. A 48 acre forest nursery was established at the summit of Alton Road in the 1870's, apparently for the experimental culture of Deodar Cedars, Himalayan Spruce, Silver Firs and several 'species of European timbers.

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The Verdon Ownership (1874-1897)

Sir George Frederic Verdon (1834-1896) was born at Bury, Lancashire, England and in 1851,aged 17, he sailed for Melbourne. After a brief and unsuccessful visit to the diggings he entered a career in business and politics. He became Victorian Treasurer in 1860 aged just 26 and had a successful career in colonial politics, prominent in banking, trade and defence. In his younger days had acted as honorary assistant at the observatory and in government he was a strong supporter of the National Museum, the new observatory in the domain and the research of Ferdinand Mueller, the Government Botanist- Verdon sailed for London in 1868 as Victoria's first Agent-General and revelled in the social prestige derived from the post. In 1867 Verdon had been elected to the Victorian board of the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank and in 1869 became a director in London. He returned from England in May 1872 to become Australian manager of the bank. Although business, Verdon's sympathies lay with the sciences and arts. He was a friend of English architect and writer Pugin, and also of Victoria's Inspector General of Public Works, William Wardell; Verdon was instrumental in the building of the Wardell-designed E.S. & A. Bank (the 'Gothic bank') in Collins Street and it became his Melbourne residence. Verdon was a member of the royal commission on fine arts, trustee of the public library, museum and national gallery , president of the Victorian Institute of Architects as well as president of the Philharmonic Society . His possessions sold after his retirement from the bank included Carrara marble statues, Dutch engravings, and more important, paintings by Gill, Glover and Guerard. Judging from his list of purchases, he spent £15 a year on his private library) whose contents are typical of those of a gentleman-scholar of the time, embracing the ancient classics, science, religion, political economy, and the poetry and novels of the century.

Correspondence by Verdon regarding his Mount Macedon selection with the Department of Land & Survey included a 'Memorandum of improvements made by the undersigned [Sir George Verdon] upon selection on Mount Macedon'. This was dated 24 August 1874 and formed part of a request by Verdon to put his selection up for auction.

1. The land is enclosed with a post and rail and twin fence.
2. All the standing dead trees - about 200 - some of them of great size have been felled and many of them burnt off.
3. Large portions of the ground have been completely cleared of logs and stumps and are ploughed and trenched.
4. Pathways to the extent of half a mile have been cut, cleared and formed.
5. 250 forest trees of the kind specified in the Regulations have been planted, and an orchard has been planted with the most suitable fruit trees.
6. 600 ornamental trees and shrubs are in the ground to be planted [by] next year.
7. A small hut has been erected.

The amount paid up to this date is £332 5s 4d
A contract is in progress with Messrs Taylor & Sangster which with extras will be £101 7s 9d
Sundry tools and material used in clearing £12 0d 0d
Further clearing now being done by day labour will be completed before sale can take place £25 0s 0d
Total £470 13s 1d

The most revealing aspect is the reference to a contract with Taylor and Sangster, presumably for the supply of plants, although their services may have been more wide ranging. At this date they were operating their nursery from Toorak although in January 1875 their land selection at Mount Macedon was approved by the Board of Land and Works and they set up a nursery on the Mount to cater for the demand of those laying out gardens at their summer retreats.

Sir George Frederic Verdon purchased his selection of 18 acres and 35 perches (lot 27, section 2) on 2 March 1875. Verdon had been rated for 18 acres of land in May 1874 but by May 1875 the rating was for 18 acres and offices, presumably indicating construction of the initial section of the current residence at Alton. It is likely that this development was brought about by the new security of his freehold tenure.

In January 1875 a bushfire slightly damaged Verdon's selection, destroying 20 chains of paling fencing and 80 fruit trees. 'Wanderer' commented that 'Although depressed by the misfortune ... Verdon again set to work to improve his little estate, and in this Sir George says he was greatly helped by Mr A. Turner of the Mount'. Alfred Turner (1837-1916) was born at Owlpen, Gloucester, England and landed with his father in South Australia in 1838. They came to Mount Macedon in 1853 where his father was a timber splitter in the period prior to the advent of the saw mills. Turner apparently served his apprenticeship with Taylor and Sangster and his obituarist claimed that he 'superintended the preparation of the ground for residences of Sir George Verdon (Alton), R.L.J. Ellery (Hascombe), C. Ryan [Derreweit], and Professor McCoy and Gordon, C.E.'. He took charge Alton from its early beginnings and remained there until Verdon's death in 1896. Alfred Turner purchased a block of just over six acres at Mount Macedon in 1888 and is described on the land title as a 'Farmer', perhaps indicating that his role at Alton was more akin to that of land steward than head gardener.

Government Astronomer Robert Ellery selected a ten acre allotment immediately north and east of Verdon's selection in 1874 (lot 6, section 7) and purchased on 2 May 1876. Melbourne architect Joseph Reed selected a tell acre allotment immediately north of Robert Ellery in 1874 although the block (lot 7, section 7) was purchased on 19 April 1876 by Verdon when it was put up for auction. Ellery's purchase blocked access between Verdon's two allotments and this was soon resolved by the sale in 1876 of land between the two parties: Ellery confining his holdings at Hascombe to the east of Alton Road and Verdon to the west.

The description in the ratebook changes in May 1878 to 'villa and offices', presumably indicating a substantial upgrading of the original cottage. It is probable that these first two building campaigns produced the residence shown in an early photograph of c. 1878 with the terra cotta shingle hung section to the east being the second section and the weatherboard section to the west the first.

Around 1879 Verdon substantially enlarged his residence, after plans by the well-known English Gothic Revival architect John Pollard Seddon (1827- 1906). Five sheets of architectural, drawings survive in the Seddon papers held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. (23) These are each inscribed 'Additions to cottage for Sir George Verdon: J.P. Seddon, 1 Queen Anne's Gate Westminster' and depict a two storey addition, of which only a modified single storey version was subsequently erected. Two detail drawings are dated September 1879 and this is roughly consistent with other evidence in the Shire of Gisborne ratebooks: for the assessment made on 19 May 1879 'A. Seddon' is listed as ratepayer and Verdon as owner. It was not uncommon for an architect to be thus listed as the owner's agent while building work was being undertaken. Seddon's documented involvement adds considerable lustre to the pedigree of Alton and also makes a lie of later claims that 'Sir George Verdon was his own architect'; perhaps its was Verdon's alterations to the Seddon plans that gave rise to the claim.

The newly-enlarged residence was depicted in a photograph of c.1882-85. This photograph also gives the clearest view of the Verdon-era garden close to the house, with foliage beds set in lawn in front of the steep grassed banks leading to the house.

In 1881 William Guilfoyle reported that Verdon had been the donor of 'Plants and seeds in quantity' to the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, as had his neighbours Robert Ellery of Hascombe ('Large specimen plant and seeds') and Charles Ryan of Derreweit ('Rare plants and seeds'). Verdon had also been a correspondent of Guilfoyle's predecessor as director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, Ferdinand Mueller, and was an advocate of his research. However, there is no evidence to suggest that either Mueller or Guilfoyle played a major part in the design or planting of Alton, other than by personal friendship and possible interchange of ideas with the owner and possible supply of some plants by exchange.

Alton was visited by William Sangster (of Taylor & Sangster) at Christmas 1884 and writing as 'Hortensis', correspondent for the Australasian, he published a long article shortly after regarding the visit. This included a very full description of plants and garden elements, at this date, less than ten years since the commencement of the garden.

As Sir George has been his own architect, he has also to a great extent relied on his own well-known refined taste and judgment in the arrangement of his grounds. The area of the ornamental part is somewhere about 18 acres, and was originally selected by Sir George on account of its natural beauties and capabilities. The form is a sort of amphitheatre, sloping rapidly to the east, south and north, and converging towards a spring, a fern-tree gully, and open valley near the centre of the grounds. The soil is a rich, loose, volcanic, and the surface was and is now covered to a great extent with a dense thicket of native shrubbery, consisting principally of musk, pomaderris, prosthanthera, the blanket tree, etc. with an undergrowth of smaller shrubs. The native pepper with pungent leaves, the coffee-berry , and other interesting plants, serve to make a garden of themselves without the aid of exotic vegetation.

Inside the gates the contrast to what you have left behind in Melbourne is very striking. Plants that flowered in our suburban gardens about the beginning of November are here in Christmastide just bursting into bloom. Many of the varieties of roses are not yet in flower. Deutzias of sorts are just coming, the white lily - lilium candidum - will not open for another fortnight; while in the way of fruit and vegetables, raspberries will not be ripe for ten days to come, and strawberries are just coming in. Gooseberries ripen here with the rich, spice flavour that can only be developed in cool climates; black and red currants are just beginning to colour, and there are no ripe cherries; green peas and early potatoes are not yet in season; cauliflowers will not stand the winter frosts here, and will not be fit to cut for some time. The winding approach to the house is supported on each side by numerous specimens of coniferous and deciduous trees, with shrubs and flowering plants in the foreground. Among conifers, the Araucaria imbricata, Abies Menziesii, A. Douglasi, the Norway and white American spruce, the silver firs and the Wellingtonia are all at home here. Among deciduous trees the ash, the birch, the linden, the beech, the oak, the horse chestnut, the maple, and sycamore are all growing most luxuriantly, with foliage of a soft green tint... The foliage of the copper beech has more of a dark, metallic lustre here than it used to carry in the old country. There are also a number of new varieties of North American maples recently introduced by Sir George, some with variegated leaves, others with foliage of a dark, bronzy green shade; these will form striking objects in a few years. Among shrubs, green and variegated hollies are freely introduced, and serve to take away any bare appearance from the borders when the deciduous trees are at rest. Magnolia Campbelli and other deciduous varieties are growing freely. The strawberry tree of Nepaul - Benthamia fragifera [now Comlls capitata] - is now covered with conspicuous cream-coloured blossoms, which in autumn will develop into fruit of the colour and form of large strawberries. Large bunches of herbaceous paeonies of various shades, from pure white to blood red, are standing at intervals along the front of the borders, and now supp1y dense masses of bright colour, which show up well against the deep green foliage behind. Lilium auratum and other Japanese varieties are here in quantity, their robust growth indicating that they have found here a congenial climate and suitable soil. The old orange lily, now in bloom, is a most conspicuous object, some of the heads bearing over 100 individual flowers on one stem. Near the house are some large beds of ericas, the ventricosas, tricolors, Cavendishi, and other choice varieties being literally smothered with bloom...

After the ground was cleared of the dead timber winding paths were formed all through and around the grounds, numerous European and North American trees were planted irregularly and all over, and in a few years the whole place will form one continued forest, we may wander for hours in the cool, leafy shades and still find something to interest you. Although the area is comparatively limited, the declivity is so rapid as to produce a marked difference of climate between the upper and the lower boundaries; in winter at the top end you find the ground covered with snow and icicles hanging from the trees, while at the bottom it will be quite mild without any sign of snow or ice; in summer it may be hot and sultry in the valley at the bottom, and when you get round to the high side the air will be cool and pleasant; the planting has been arranged so as to have; trees suited to the different altitudes. On the lower parts, in a sheltered nook we find the Paulownia imperialis of Japan with broad foliage, the numerous flower-spikes showing that a month ago it must have been a conspicuous object. The alder, the beech, the horse chestnut, the Spanish chestnut, the walnut, .the Oriental plane, the lime, the silver and Ontario poplars have already got stout stems and bulky heads; higher up we find the 'birk, with silver bark and long, dishevelled hair', shooting up tall stems straight as an arrow, with elegant, bright-green tops: here also the larch firs form dense pyramids of the brightest green, while there are plenty of rowan trees to scare away any witches who might venture to intrude on this sylvan retreat. The Taxodium sempervirens of North America is running up rapidly, while the Japanese Cryptomeria elegans is already a tree with a straight stem, unlike the squat bush we see about Melbourne. The Thujopsis borealis of North America appears as If It would develop Into a fine tree; on the steep, wide border above the upper walk your see 'Aloft the ash and warrior oak' already firmly anchored in 'the rifted rock' which frequently crops up above the surface of the rich but shallow soil that covers the upper part of the grounds; at the far end on the upper corner you look upon fine groups of Cedrus deodara and Wellingtonia gigantea. As you wander round the grass paths, your attention is arrested at various points by beds of bright flowers, clumps of flowering shrubs of choice single specimens; going along a shady sequestered still in full bloom Further on you look down on a group of the beautiful Kalmia latifolia, with large clusters of neat rosette cups; in another shady nook you come across a large bed of lily of the valley, now over, but you mark the mass of stout flower stems standing up among the dark green leaves, and wish you had been here a month ago. Beds of roses are found in different parts of the grounds, dare just coming into bloom. The foxglove is quite naturalised here, and is growing wild all about. Among the native shrubs some parts have been allowed purposely to grow into a wilderness...

Near the middle of the grounds a stream of the purest water issues out from among rocks and ferns, while overhead is a dense canopy of musk, prostanthera, and other native shrubs, which afford in the most sultry summer day a cool and impenetrable shade. Sufficient space has been cleared to allow room for rustic seats, a cup is placed convenient, in order that the passer-by may both rest and also partake of the cooling draught. To me this fountain of living water is the most interesting feature in the grounds...

The little streamlet from the spring -meanders through and supplies the needed moisture to an extensive natural ferntree gully, which is one of the principal features of the place-A winding narrow path has been cut through among the ferns, occasionally crossing the pebbly rill. Seats are placed at convenient intervals. Here you may rest under the shade of fern-fronds and enjoy the cool, musky air which can only be found in a natural ferntree gully. At an open space near the lower end, a large pool or lakelet has been formed, its outline broken and fringed with dwarf ferns, its termination being hid among tree ferns and weeping willows. Above the pool is an extensive, open, grassy slope, surrounded on three sides by the native scrub, and on the other, by the fern gully and pool ,.. From this point you obtain a fine view of the surrounding banks of plantation, the exotic trees showing well up above the native shrub. Midway up the hill an elegantly designed summer house embowered in evergreens, forms a pleasing feature in the landscape- Along the lower walk by the bottom of the gully a fern avenue has been planted, here you walk for a considerable distance along a dark archway of fern-tops.

From the summer house on the hillside the finest view of the place is obtained; from here the descent is rapid, and you look over the tree-tops in the fore-ground down on the fern gully, the green 'moolah' with the dark pool behind. Outside, the eye can wander over a vast expanse of hill and dale. Near the summer house is the finest specimen of the wild pine of the north of Europe, Pinus sylvestris, I have ever seen in Australia, it never thrives in the lowlands, but in a climate like this it would soon grow into valuable timber. The Pinus Austriaca nigra, from the Black Forest of Heidelberg, another valuable timber tree, has already formed find conical specimens.

The orchard and kitchen garden is situated on a plateau behind, and at some distance from the house and is well stocked with fruits and vegetables suited to the climate. Waterpipes are laid all over the garden, the soil being so dry and porous that you may use any amount of water during warm weather without injury. Near this garden is a commodious gardener's cottage, and the stables are close by. Sir George has done the state good service by reclaiming a considerable portion of the hillside from a wilderness of dead timber, and planting it all over with a class of trees suited to the climate. The planting was done in a manner that, in similar situations, could be carried out extensively at a limited outlay. Holes were dug among the scrub, without any trenching, strong, healthy, well rooted plants were put in, a space, around the trees was kept clear of weeds for a season or two, and afterwards the trees were left to take care of themselves. The variety of trees introduced is very great, and we have here a valuable experimenta1 plantation that has not cost the country a single penny.

Matching this description against the surviving garden layout, it seems plausible that the main layout of the garden was in place by this date, including the pond (in its first incarnation), the main path system, and major tree planting.

In 1884 the governor Sir Henry Loch rented David Syme; property Rosenheim as a temporary summer retreat and the government purchased the property in 1885, after lobbying by Verdon and others. In December 1885 the Gisborne Gazette commented on the sale:

The sale by David Syme of his residence and land on Mount Macedon to the Government as a summer retreat for His Excellency has had the effect of greatly increasing the value of land in this locality. The price obtained by Mr Syme (£5,000) was not an unreasonable one, as there is rather more than 57 acres of land attached to the residence, and the view from the house is unrivalled on the Mount ... Sir George Verdon's house stands higher, but there a portion of the Mount abuts off the view, disclosing less of the perspective, thus conveying the idea of looking through a funnel...

Another long published description, this time of a stay at Government Cottage by the English historian and man of letters, James Anthony Froude (1818-1894), gives a good picture of life in Alton Road. This is complemented by a page of illustrations in the Australasian Sketcher in 1886 including a distant view of Alton from the road.: 'No.7. - A sketch of Sir George Verdon's house from the road'. Froude's comments on his stay at Mount Macedon are as follows:

It was now the 31st of January [1885], the hottest part of the Australian dog-days. At this time of the year, Melbourne, generally cool and pleasant, becomes oppressive, especially to children. Those who can be absent go for the season to Tasmania. Sir Henry Loch, who was obliged to remain within reach of his advisers, had removed with his family to a cottage in the mountains, 3,000 feet above the sea, forty miles only from Melbourne, and near the Sandhurst and Melbourne line. Here he had kindly requested that I join him ... At a roadside station we parted from our escort and his sumptuous carriage ... to make our way in a post-cart to the mountain which we saw rising before us, clothed from foot to crest with gigantic gum-trees. There was forest all about us as far as the eye could reach. We had been warned that we were going into a wilderness; but it was a civilised wilderness, as will be seen. After driving four or five miles, we came to the foot of Mount Macedon, up the side of which our horses had to crawl.

After ascending four hundred feet we found a level plateau, laid out prettily with cottages, a good-looking house or two, and an English-looking village church. A short descent again, and then an equal rise, brought us to the gate of the summer residence of the Governor, along, low, one-storied building with a deep verandah round it clustered over with creepers ... here we found the flora of the temperate regions in full vigour, which refuse to grow at all at the lower levels. We had still the gum-trees about us, shooting up freely, two hundred feet or more; some magnificent in full foliage; others naked, bare, and skeleton-like, having been killed by bush fires; but round the house, oaks and elms, cypress and deodara seemed at home and happy; filbert-trees were bending with fruit too abundant for them to ripen, while the grounds were blazing with roses and geraniums and gladiolus. The Australian plain spread out far below our feet, the horizon forty miles away; the reddish-green of the near eucalyptus softening off into the transparent blue of the distance. Behind the house the mountain rose for another thousand feet, inviting a climb which might be dangerous, for it swarms with snakes...

The situation is so beautiful and so healthy that it is a favourite with the wealthy Melbourne gentlemen: Seven hundred feet above us the accomplished Sir George Verdon, long agent-general for Victoria, in England, and remembered and regretted by all who knew him, has built himself a most handsome mansion surrounded by well-timbered grounds which he has inclosed [sic] and planted.

In the winter, which he spends in Melbourne, this highland home of his is sometimes swathed in snow. In summer the heat of the sun is tempered by the fresh keen air of the mountain; and were it only a little easier of access, Sir George Verdon's hermitage would be a place to be envied.

He is not the Governor's only or nearest neighbour. A quarter of a mile from Sir Henry Loch's cottage, and on the same lower level, there is a large residence, belonging to a Mr Ryan ... Having the colonial passion for gardening and means for indulging it, Mr Ryan has created hat in England would be a show piece, for its beauty and curiosity . Tropical plants will not of course grow there, but all else seemed to grow; there was scarcely a rare flower belonging to the temperate regions of any part of the world of which he had not a specimen, and his fruit garden would have supplied one side of Covent Garden.

The Governor had not such grounds as Sir George Verdon, nor such flower-beds as Mr Ryan, but what he had would have been counted beautiful anywhere else. The landscape surrounding was perfection; and in this delightful situation and in the doubly delightful society of the Governor's family, we lingered day after day ... We walked, sketched, lounged, and botanised, perhaps best employed when doing nothing except wandering the shade of the wood.

A week after, when we were away, Mount Macedon was the centre of a bush-fire; the landscape on which we were gazing was wreathed for miles and miles in smoke and flame, and the forest monarchs, which stood so serene and grand against the starry sky, were charred and blackened stumps.

On another occasion, when the party travelled to St Huberts vineyard in the Yarra Valley, Froude spoke of Verdon, 'descending from his eyrie' to join the party:

The heat was extreme [and] we observed an unusual look in the sky; a cloud hung over the horizon of a dirty white colour… It was in the direction of Mount Macedon, and ... at length it became obvious that many miles of forest in that quarter, and apparently at that particular spot, must be in flames. Sir Henry was painfully anxious. An aide-de-camp waiting at the Melbourne station informed us that our fears were well founded. The whole district was burning. The Governor's cottage and Sir George Verdon's house were safe so far; but fires of this kind, and in such weather, spread with extreme rapidity. Lady Loch with the children were still on the spot. Sir Henry flew on with a special engine ... [Froude retires to the Melbourne Club] ... Sir George Verdon's place had been saved by his on forethought; a large area had been cleared of bush between the house and the rest of the mountains, which the fire had been unable to cross, It had descended to within fifty yards of the cottage. It had then stopped-partly from exhaustion, partly through the energy of the neighbours who had exerted themselves manfully and loyally.

Sir George Verdon's wife Annie (whom he had married in 1861) died in 1889 and about this time Alton was placed on the market, although not subsequently sold. In 1895, 'Wanderer', correspondent for the Gisborne Gazette visited Alton and included useful comments on Sir George Verdon's garden philosophy and planting.

Though cultivated holdings are the rule, rather than the exception, upon the Mount, there is one respect in which the holder of Alton estate differs from many of his neighbours -that is, that he does not aim at establishing a metropolitan garden in the midst of the forest. His idea is rather to bring his garden more into harmony with the surroundings of the mountain. In the words of Pope, he would

'In all let nature never be forgot,
But treat the goddess like a modest fair,
Nor ever dress nor leave her wholly bare.'

Sir George Verdon died on 13 September 1896. Earlier that year the Australasian had published two photographs of Alton (possibly taken some years earlier) and these show the garden around little changed from the c.1885 view. They also show the addition of a second storey over the eastern wing. Probate of Verdon's estate was granted to his son Arthur.

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The Hood Ownership (1897-1924)

Hood put Alton up for sale in 1912 although there is no evidence from the title that the property was sold. The auction notice gives some slight evidence of his period of ownership:

Sale by Auction. Wednesday, February 14 at the Rooms, 360-366 Collins Street at twelve o'c1ock. Under Instructions from the owner, Mr Justice Hood, Beautifully appointed mountain home 'Alton', Upper Macedon. Baillieu Patterson and Sons Pty Ltd are instructed to sell by auction, as above, Alton, Upper Macedon. One of the best known of all the picturesque and delightful residences on the upper slopes of Mount Macedon. ' Alton' is a two-storey wooden residence faced with tiles, and on brick foundations, of Gothic designs, and of most pleasing and artistic appearance. It stands on an elevation of bout 3,000 Feet above sea level, and commanding charming views, both of the other slopes of the Range and the plains below …[description of interior] ... The late Sir George Verdon, who built the house, spared absolutely no expense to make it as perfect a country house as possible, and it is needless to say, that it has been well maintained, and even improved by the present owner. The stabling comprises 4 stalls, 2 coach-houses, harness, feed, and man's room, and there is also a gardener's cottage, containing 5 rooms. . The grounds comprise 26 acres, and are literally filled with splendid and well-grown specimens of English, Continental, American and Asiatic trees. At all seasons of the year, and especially in the autumn, the grounds are truly a picture of magnificent foliage, such as the eye seldom rests upon. The approach to the house is by curved carriage drive, bordered on both sides by choice flowering shrubs and trees in the background. The gardens immediately around the house are beautifully laid out with sloping lawns and flower-beds, masses of brilliant colour. There is an asphalt tennis-court and below that an enchanting fern gully, with running stream, and a small lake with water-lilies and other aquatic plants. Every part of the garden, tells of the care and attention bestowed on them, both in their laying-out and maintenance. A kitchen-garden, well-grown orchard and a grass paddock of about 5 acres supply these necessary adjuncts to a country house. The above gives but a faint description of the beauties of this . property , which must be seen to be appreciated, and the auctioneers invite prospective buyers to allow them to arrange with Mr Justice Hood for inspection, which can only be by such arrangement. The furniture to be taken at valuation. Title certificate.

Particulars from Messrs Bolger and Miller, Chancery Lane. Baillieu Patterson and Sons Pty Ltd., 360-366 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Hood's input to the garden at Alton is not known (but is presumed to be insignificant) and there is ho evidence to amplify the statement from the 1912 auction notice that the house at Alton had 'been well maintained, and even improved by the present owner'. A 1908 photograph shows the garden to the east of the house with a Chinese Fan Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) in the centre of the triangular bed. The only other known photograph to show the Alton garden during the Hood period is a stereo photograph of a family trip to Mount Macedon.

Hood's period of ownership of Alton coincided in a general opening up of Mount Macedon to tourists. In 1898 the Mount Macedon Local Improvement Society had been established, following the model set by the Warrnambool Tourists' Association. The objects of the Society were:

To provide voluntary subscriptions and donations to be expended in the prevention of bush fires, the protection of ferns and the most beautiful of the native shrubs. Watching the springs and streams and protecting them from pollution. Making paths and walks to make the beautiful and interesting and spots of the Mountain accessible to visitors. The introduction of English song birds, planting trees and the improvement of the district generally.

In 1900 a garden fete was held at Robert Harper's garden "Huntly Burn" in aid of the Local Improvement Society , at which it was reported that the group had been instrumental in inducing the Gisborne Shire Counci1 to plant 100 trees, which had been kindly granted as a gift by William Sangster. In 1904 a Guide Map to Mount Macedon was issued by the Mount Macedon Local Improvement Society and this plotted the 'Old Bush Track' which led north-west past Duneira to cross the top of Alton Road and proceed on to Braemar House and Woodend. By this date the former State Nursery Plantation at the top of Alton Road was marked 'Pine Forest' and showed a picnic place at a waterhole.

Hood died on 28 January 1921 and probate was granted on 21 November 1922 to Lucy Evelyn Shields (married woman of Malvern Road, Toorak), Arthur Seymour Dennis (valuator of Caroline Street, South Yarra), Alan lames Hutchison (accountant of Kerford Street, East Malvern). A small portion of land (2 roods and I4 perches at the south of the site) was transferred by these new owners to the Board of Land and Works on 27 March 1924 (registered on the title on 27 August 1924) for dedication as permanent forest and the balance of the estate was transferred to Rose Whiting on 11 December 1924.

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The Whiting Ownership (1924-1927)

Whiting was in the habit of purchasing neighbouring properties, presumably as a means of reselling to potentially congenial neighbours. Thus in 1898 he purchased the former Veness property (subsequently known as Marnarnie), selling it in the following year to Isaac Alfred Isaacs, who later became Australia's first native-born Governor-General. Likewise in the-late 1890s, as mortgagee of the Rowan property, he foreclosed and gained title to this land. The Rowan's residence, 'constructed of wood, and the outside cased in an elegant manner by all shapes of fantastic imported tiles', had been razed by fire in June 1892 thus destroying this outstanding residence. His purchase and four year ownership of Alton appears to have been undertaken in a similar manner to his other purchases.

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George Nicholas Ownership (1927-1960)

A caveat was lodged on the title of Alton on 11 January 1928 and this lapsed on 6 January 1931. On that date the property was conveyed to Lorraine-Investments Propriety Limited of Swanston Street, Melbourne, a company controlled by the Nicholas family. This latter date presumably refers to full payment for the property by Nicholas.

The ratebook records a net annual value of £150 at the time of transfer, but a pencil annotation 'rise £250' indicates that work on the property started almost immediately- The rate made in October 1928 confirms the net annual value of £250 and by October 1929 this had risen to £500, indicating considerable new work. The net annual value stayed at £500 until at least 1937-38, confirming that the major period of improvement was in 1927-29.

George Richard Rich Nicholas (1884-1960) was a pharmacist and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the period following the First World War when German supplied of acetylsalicylic acid, better known as aspirin, were cut off. Using kerosene tins and kitchen utensils George set out to react salicylic acid, a white powder, with acetic anhydride, an acrid-smelling white powder, and after much perseverance he succeeded in making the first Australian supplies of aspirin. With the help of freelance entrepreneur Henry Woolf Shmith he refined a pure version and in 1915 Shmith, Nicholas & Co. were granted a licence to make and sell aspirin in Australia. Realising the name 'Aspirin' could be reclaimed by German Company Bayer after the war, Nicholas registered the trade name 'Aspro', still household name in Australia. Operations were subsequently extended to England and manufacturing began in New Zealand in 1923 -George married Ruby Dorcas Campbell in 1912 and they had two sons and two daughters. Ruby died in 1926 and Nicholas married Shirley Austin Alcock in 1936; they had a son and a daughter.

There is very little documentary evidence of the works undertaken by Nicholas, but surviving physical evidence, one oblique aerial photograph and the earliest known orthographic aerial photograph provide some details. The major structural work in the garden was the development of the boldly-sited tennis court, constructed in a massive cut and fill operation in front (i.e. to the south) of the residence. Nicholas also presumably had the retaining walls throughout the garden constructed (or at least greatly extended), the pond reconstructed, the so-called 'Cherry Walk' developed, the paths resurfaced with stone, and the boundary redefined with Cyclone fencing. It is almost certain that Nicholas redeveloped the kitchen garden, including the addition of the vinery, dairy, animal pens, the cottages and garage, and considerably augmented the planting in the garden. Nicholas apparently went overseas in 1933 and presumably most of the structural work had been undertaken by this date.

In 1935 a small section of crown land was added to Alton by exchange, known as Section 2, Lot 27A, comprising 0 acres 2 roods and 14 perches at the south of the existing landholding. This land had formerly provided access to the state forest, but was exchanged by the government for land elsewhere. Nicholas exchanged 122 acres of land elsewhere (in the Parish of Kerrie) in order to slightly increase his holding at Alton. An easement was created for the State Electricity Commission of Victoria on 23 August 1946, affecting three small areas of land along Alton Road frontage for the purposes of erecting power poles. Nicholas died on 21 September 1960.

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Shirley Nicholas Ownership (1960-1990)

Historic stronghold of high society in Melbourne, Mount Macedon has kept its exclusive English county [sic] atmosphere and its cool reserve through the years. It is the Mecca of the socially ambitious, but it is like breaking through the walls of Jericho to get into that close-knit circle known as the 'old family clique'-the circle that makes Mount Macedon the stronghold of the elite' ... Owners change, One example is Alton, now the weekend home of Mrs George Nicholas. It's a lovely home with walls of tiles that looks out over banks and banks of azaleas. In the days of the ownership of Sir George Verdon, a famous Macedon name, the garden was planned by the great Von Mueller himself (the man who laid out the Melbourne Botanic Gardens). Alton was later taken over by Judge Hood but has now for many years been one of the country homes of the Nicholas family.

A coloured photograph of the house showed it in the two tone colour scheme, presumably instituted by Nicholas.

Many properties at Mount Macedon were badly damaged by bushfires in 1983. Alton survived with comparatively little damage, but some large trees were lost and several areas of the garden were fire damaged. Remarkably the house, constructed mostly of timber, survived with no damage. Following the fires several reports were prepared to assess the impact of the fires on Alton and to canvas new opportunities for conservation and development. The University of Melbourne produced Design for Change which, although based on some historical research, produced detailed landscape schemes lacking a solid assessment of cultural significance. In 1986 Nigel Lewis and Associates produced Alton and Hascombe, Alton Road, Mount Macedon, Conservation Analysis, Policies and Use Options, prepared for the Victoria Conservation Trust, at a time when the state government were contemplating acquisition of these two adjoining properties. This acquisition did not subsequently proceed and Alton remained in Nicholas family ownership until 1990. In July 1990 the contents of the property were auctioned, including 'contents of all outbuildings, including mowers, ground equipment and garden furniture' amongst which was a Coalbrookdale garden setting of unknown date. The auction of the real estate was scheduled for 27 June 1990 and lavish brochure prepared by Keatings Real Estate of Woodend. Heavy snow caused the cancellation of the auction and the property was sold privately.

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Coles Myer Ownership (1990-1997)

There was little work done on the house (apart from the presumed removal of some Nicholas-era features) and only minimal maintenance of the garden. A report giving conservation advice was, prepared by conservation architect Andrew Ward and drawings documenting substantial alterations were prepared by architects Perrot Lyon Mathieson, but this work did not eventuate.

Following upheavals in Coles-Myer, the property was placed on the market and in 1997 Keatings again prepared a lavish brochure for the auction on 30 January 1997.

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Eshuys Ownership (1997 to present)

The Eshuys family commissioned a Garden Conservation Plan in 1998 and are committed to restoring and enhancing the garden and buildings at Alton.

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