Located at the present day Geelong suburb of St. Albans Park is the historic homestead of St. Albans. Built in 1873 for renowned racehorse breeder and trainer James Wilson, the single storey 30-roomed brick mansion consists of 30 rooms and was extended first in 1875 and then again three years later. The Melbourne architect James T Conlan designed the extensive homestead in the fashionable polychromatic mode with an elaborate cast iron verandah by Geelong foundry men Humble & Co. There were additions to the homestead in 1875 designed by Conlan and, in 1878, alterations and additions designed by Conlan and Salway.
The property once covered 325 hectares and boasted a racecourse “bigger than Flemington”. The stud’s rolling green paddocks and racecourse have been replaced by housing subdivisions, leaving only the heritage-listed homestead and adjacent stables as links to its rich racing history.
The names of many famous racehorses were associated with the property during the 19th century and the early parts of the 20th century, including the great Phar Lap who was hidden on the property for three days prior to the 1930 Melbourne Cup after an attempt was made on the horse’s life.St Albans has produced nine Cup winners of its own. Its champions included the filly Briseis, who, as a three-year-old, won the Melbourne Cup, VRC Derby and VRC Oaks in 1876.
The homestead featured prominently in the 1980 film, Phar Lap, with the legendary horses’ strapper Tommy Woodcock returning to the property during filming.
The property remains in private hands but has been opened to the public at some points. On one such occasion in 2003, the then owner remarked that whilst he had never seen a ghost in the house, he had noticed a number of unexplained occurrences such as mysteriously opening and closing doors. He also indicated that there were reported to be several ghosts associated with the property including a racehorse owner, a vanishing jockey and a lecherous ladies’ man in the guest room. Exactly who these characters might be has never been explained.
TRY AND CRACK THE CODE
DhucwTscxeNxgseHnnIwz.KxrxHiiPbgqi EldmOwtFzfkFxjrEhhTqgep.ZgeOducEarnt
