Balnagowan

Balnagowan was built in 1891 by the Ross family.  This grand house had 19 acres of lake front garden, with uninterrupted views stretching across the lake and beyond.  The original Balnagowan Castle near Inverness in Scotland, was home and fortress to centuries of the Clan Ross, and where the name of the homestead is derived from.

The two storied dark brick home with its tall chimneys, imported English tiles on the roof and many decorative concrete mouldings on the exterior walls, it still offers an impressive sight to the viewer. 

This elegant homestead served as a country retreat to the many guests that the Ross family would host and entertain, with their well known garden parties.

After the death of Alexander Ross Esq in 1907, most of the land around the homestead was subdivided into housing estates, leaving the house sitting on just the 19 acres.

Balnagowan has seen many owners, and was even ran as a private hospital from 1952 to 1964 and afterwards a reception centre until the late 1970s.

The mid 80’s saw the 19 acres subdivided into another housing estate, leaving the house only on close to 10 acres, which is what it still sits on today.

By the early 1990’s the house was bought by a Melbourne couple.  Restoring it back to its former glory was a rewarding challenge for Bill and Helen, and they even opened it back up as a function centre and also offered bed and breakfast accommodation.  Its where Mr & Mrs H_3 held their wedding reception - that’s why this house has a special place in our hearts.

New owners took over in 2012, with the plans to have the sound of social activity echoing in its grand rooms once again, as the meeting place and centrepiece of the Balnagowan Estate Retirement Village.

Please note during the summer period there could be a possibility of snakes and lizards. Please exercise extreme caution while searching for this cache.