Station House - Daylesford
Address:
15 Raglan Street
Suburb:
Daylesford
Postcode:
3460
Phone:
(03) 5348 1591
Web Address:
Email Address:
sgh@netconnect.net.au
Details:
The homestead was built circa 1853 by a young American engineer who came out to the then NSW colony in Australia, from Vermont, near the Canadian border.
This part of Hepburn, later called Daylesford was at the start of a gold rush. Aged 22, this young American ventured out to try his luck in the gold fields, as an early pioneer Loukes contributed to creating a part of Australia's early history.
TJ Loukes lived at this property until he died in Feb 1906. Until then this property was operating as several businesses, the main one a Guest House from the late 1850's until circa 1927.
Other interests of Mr Loukes were mining engineering, foreman of the local water board and designing the water races around the hills for sluicing alluvial gold. He started the Hepburn mineral water co-op with a partner thus creating the first sales of mineral water in iron cans purposely made at Campbell's Creek by the great grand father of a current resident.
Adding to this he also become a local builder and land marks still exist such as a rotunda at the end of lake Daylesford. His son became a brick layer and helped build the current Jubilee lake wall and lookout tower on Wombat Hill.
Loukes brought with him a species of bees and introduced Pomeranian dogs to the area and started breeding them.
Since those days the property has been the local dairy and ice works, a residence for a large family, and back again to a guest house B&B.
Another historical part to this property is a 100 year old train carriage mounted on brick piers just waiting for passengers
The latest feather in the cap of the property is it hosted a footrace for guests to participate in. The race starts at 10 seconds before 12 midnight and finishes at 8 seconds past midnight. The tradition started in 1999 and the race finished in the next century.The first participants finished the first foot race of this century, running from one century to the next.
The tariff for a one night stay at this historic property is $168 including a continental breakfast.