Ballarat Horticultural Society’s president Michael Taffe will open his historic home and garden today as a fundraiser for the society.
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The house, Hymettus, was built in 1901 in front of a 1860s skillion cottage and generations of Taffes have lived in the house since. The origin of the name of the house is a curious story. Michael’s grandfather had a ticket in the Argus sweep for the Caulfield Cup in 1898 (a race marred by tragedy). The horse that won was Hymettus, and Mr Taffe bought the existing cottage with his winnings. A local builder and developer was engaged to extend the house and it was finished in 1901, complete with electricity to the rooms.The front four rooms are virtually unchanged since the 1920s, and the greater proportion of the furniture and fittings were made in Ballarat.
The front rooms of the home are a time capsule of life 100 years ago. A bed in the front room is ¾ size, less than a double. There are samples of the bright paper that once covered the walls framed in each room. The dining room has a frieze of hand-coloured paper lining the join between wall and ceiling, depicting ‘Fairyland’ at Lake Wendouree. A huge silver trophy adorns the mantle, celebrating a series of garden competition wins between 1915 and 1918.
Hymettus’s garden extend to the front and rear of the property: a display garden in the front of the house and extensive vegetable plots and chicken yard to the rear. The garden layout is original and retains the ordered lines typical of the early part of last century.
Michael Taffe says that he fears for the future of Hymettus as development sees larger garden blocks demolished and built over with units. Despite being in a heritage overlay area, the orchard of the property next door has been replaced with flats, and another property in the block was subdivided and a new home built in place of gardens.
“We had a councillor come here a few years ago and tell us we were selfish for having a garden block this size,” says Mr Taffe.
“It seems Ballarat Council were more concerned about heritage 30 years ago than they are now.
Hymettus will be open from 10am until 4.30pm Monday. Entry is by $10 donation. 8 Cardigan Street, Lake Wendouree.
