Narrapumelap was built in 1873 in the French Gothic style.

Its original owner, John Dixon Wyselaskie (1818-1883) was a successful pastoralist and a philanthropist.

Current Narrapumelap owner Kevin McIntyre said when his parents bought the homestead it was in a state of disrepair and had fallen victim to vandalism.

Some of the home’s original features even had to be recovered from a nearby creek.

In seeking to restore the homestead’s centerpiece, a tower with rooms and a staircase, Mr McIntyre had trouble coming up with an authentic plan until a chance encounter.

“On this part of the project, it was quite amazing,” he said.

“We had seen an etching, a lithograph of the building and we had thought, because we had never seen the original rooftop on the tower, that perhaps it had never really been completed as intended.”

“At a Narrapumelap open day about 30 years ago, we had someone working at the Ararat Advertiser come to the day who knew my parents.

“They say the building and it prompted a memory. They said ‘I think I’ve seen a photograph of this place in the archives’.”

The staff member went an checked the archives and found a picture of the tower in its original state.

“Somebody had been sent by the Ararat Advertiser to photograph and record the building,” Mr McIntyre said.

“That is what I have been able to base by restoration on.

“I wanted the challenge and I always do my own design work. Based on blow-ups of those photos, I think I have come up with something spectacular.” 

Mr McIntyre set to work hand-drawing a one-to-one scale tower plan, taking up most of the floor in one of the mansion with a 22-foot pencil sketch.

The hard work has now mostly paid off, with the roof lifted into place in November after stonemasons had repaired the tower while working suspended by a crane.

The restored design also includes a gilded crown as a tribute to the original owner, who claimed to be a member of the Polish royal family.

“I’ve just completed a very major part of the restoration and a pretty significant contribution to Australian architectural history,” Mr McIntyre said.

“I think it’s very important to focus your ideas to complement the architecture that you’re working with.”

The Narrapumelap Mansion can be visited on open days or by appointment by phoning 5350 3220.