Restoring and renovating one of Australia’s oldest properties – and financing it with Bendigo Bank

When seasoned renovators Jane Marchment and Neil Gibbs found themselves with an empty nest, their hunger for a new project led them to Wickliffe in Western Victoria. The pair have spent the last four years completing a significant restoration and renovation of the 15-room residence known as Berrambool Homestead. They were able to finance the complex project with the support of their local community branch of Bendigo Bank.

Load video: Berrambool Homestead in Wickliffe, Victoria

Berrambool Homestead in Wickliffe, Victoria

Show transcript

Close transcript

Jane saw Berrambool advertised in the paper and rang me immediately.
Jane just Said, "I found the one."
Berrambool, the homestead itself, has many connections to many people.
For us, we were trying to achieve two things in this process.
One was a restoration of this incredibly historic homestead, but also a renovation to create a home.
So, what we've brought in is modern features like a flushing toilet.
And the other wonderful thing that we've done is we've bumped into things like the glass in the library.
That wasn't planned, but when we found it, you think, "Crikey, we've got to make That work.”
Financing this project is not an easy task. It's a heritage home in a state of disrepair.
Our local branch is within the local community centre.
There was a sign out the front that said, ‘Local manager, local decisions.’
It was really our local bank manager that suggested the idea of the construction loan to us.
It has honestly worked so smoothly.
Absolutely. It's been seamless throughout the whole process.
That's one of the lovely things about being in a small community with a regional bank.
You get to see the people that are your bankers in the local community.
Build your local connections.
A banking partner is part of that local fabric.
We felt really, we were getting the loan directly from Lake Bolac.
That's how it felt.

Close transcript

Close transcript

Jane saw Berrambool advertised in the paper and rang me immediately.
Jane just Said, "I found the one."
Berrambool, the homestead itself, has many connections to many people.
For us, we were trying to achieve two things in this process.
One was a restoration of this incredibly historic homestead, but also a renovation to create a home.
So, what we've brought in is modern features like a flushing toilet.
And the other wonderful thing that we've done is we've bumped into things like the glass in the library.
That wasn't planned, but when we found it, you think, "Crikey, we've got to make That work.”
Financing this project is not an easy task. It's a heritage home in a state of disrepair.
Our local branch is within the local community centre.
There was a sign out the front that said, ‘Local manager, local decisions.’
It was really our local bank manager that suggested the idea of the construction loan to us.
It has honestly worked so smoothly.
Absolutely. It's been seamless throughout the whole process.
That's one of the lovely things about being in a small community with a regional bank.
You get to see the people that are your bankers in the local community.
Build your local connections.
A banking partner is part of that local fabric.
We felt really, we were getting the loan directly from Lake Bolac.
That's how it felt.

Close transcript

Stonemasonry and stained-glass windows

The sister property of the better-known Werribee Mansion, Berrambool Homestead was built in 1864 for Scottish emigrant, John Moffat. Constructed by Scottish stonemasons from bluestone, the home was part of the Hopkins Hill pastoral run.

“We were trying to achieve two things in this process. Firstly, a restoration of this incredible historic homestead, and secondly a renovation to create a home,” Neil explained. He candidly clarified that they’d prioritised certain modern features like “a flushing toilet.”

The project was no mean feat for the pair despite their extensive renovation experience. The scale and history of the property meant they unearthed challenges and opportunities along the way. The pair took a serendipitous approach to what would be restored and what would be updated.

“We’ve bumped into things, like the glass in the library,” Neil said. Referencing painted glass windows that they located from a glass collector north of Sydney. “It wasn’t the plan, but when we found it, we thought ‘crikey, we’ve got to make that work.’” The glass now sits in cabinetry as part of the property’s library.

“I’ve found the one”

Jane came across the Berrambool property when it was advertised in the local paper. At first sight, they knew they’d found their next project.

“Jane called me and said, ‘I’ve found the one,’” Neil said.

The couple dove deep into the history of the property. They connected with locals on social media who were eager to share their connections to Berrambool and follow its journey back to life.

Maintaining several of the heritage features of the property was an important part of the renovation. Standing in the cricket pitch-sized hallway of the home, Jane pointed out a number of eye-catching features. A granite-pillared Byzantine arch. Intricately designed pediments above doorways. A stained-glass window. Even a cabinet of artefacts found during the renovation that they’d preserved.

Other aspects of the project involved replicating damaged parts of the ornamentation. Moulds were created to restore the intricate design of the ceilings and cornices to their former glory.

In the main dining room, formerly the ‘gentleman’s room’, sits a vast 12-seater wooden table. Used by former owner John Moffatt’s nephew when he was the president of Ararat Shire Council, Jane and Neil were given the table by the Ararat Historical Society given its rich connection to the property.

In the now-library sits the original stonemason-restored Belgian Blank mantal. Jane explained the feature “perfectly dates the house”. The presence of fossils that were once thought to be imperfections link it to the quarry’s first cut.

Local manager, local decisions

Jane described the Berrambool project as “challenging” to finance. It was “a heritage home in a state of disrepair”.

On a visit to the local township of Lake Bolac, Jane visited the Bendigo Bank branch inside the community centre. Drawn in by a sign that said “local manager, local decisions” Jane learned for the first time about a construction loan.

Construction loans are project-specific and designed to release funds in line with each stage of completion. “It’s been seamless throughout the whole process,” Neil said, explaining that invoices for trades were always paid on time.

The home's connection to the local community added to the significance of the local financing. “We felt like we were getting the loan directly from Lake Bolac,” Jane joked. The pair gushed about how special it was to build relationships with the local banking team throughout the project.

Learn more about Berrambool Homestead including tours and experiences on their website https://www.berrambool.com.au/