Mulberry Hill
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| Location: | Golf Links Road, Langwarrin South |
| Melway Ref: | 107 C2 |
| Phone: | (03) 5971 4138 |
| Opening Hours: | For guided tours only: Groups and schools by appointment anytime. Garden available for functions and weddings. Catering available. |
Mulberry Hill was the home of the late Sir Daryl Lindsay and Joan Lindsay. The property was bequeathed to the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) in 1984, on Joan Lindsay's death. The house, furnished just as Joan left it, includes Daryl Lindsay's studio, in which there is a unique and exceptional collection of paintings, books and memorabilia, and Joan Lindsay's writing room, where she wrote the novel that later became the well-known film - 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'.
In 1926, the Lindsays purchased a 12-hectare property at Baxter, which included an apple orchard, natural bushland, gum trees, swamp tea trees, sheoaks, wild cherry trees, a water hole and a little creek. The property was originally part of the Carrup Carrup pastoral run settled by Captain Benjamin Baxter in 1840. His son-in-law John Sage, after whom nearby Sages Cottage is named also worked on the property.
The property was purchased from the McCubbins (cousins of the painter Fred McCubbin). The existing four-roomed weatherboard cottage, circa 1880's was incorporated into the design of the present building.
The two front rooms became Daryl's studio, the back bedroom became a scullery and the kitchen was left intact. Daryl and Joan drew plans for the necessary extensions, engaging architect Desbrow Annear to produce the necessary blueprints and supervise the work.
The Lindsays took up residence in 1926. They enjoyed entertaining and among their visitors were Sir Robert Helpman, Vivien Leigh, Dame Nellie Melba, Sir Keith and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Lionel Lindsay and many artistic and literary colleagues.
Paintings in the house include works by:
- McCubbin
- John Longstaff
- George Bell
- John Perceval
- Arthur Boyd
- Justin O'Brien
- Ian Armstrong
- Margaret Preston
- Phyl Waterhouse
- Rick Amor
- Percy, Lionel, Daryl and Joan Lindsay
The furniture in the house is mainly Georgian with a few Victorian pieces. There is a collection of Staffordshire pottery and china, Joan Lindsay's writing room was her special place. She sat on the floor to write, and artistic designer Fred Ward created the murals of ferns and banana palms. Her account of life at Mulbery Hill is published in "Time Without Clocks".