Rippon Lea

Even though we were to travel over quite a bit of Victoria & Tasmania I found that you really didn't need to go very far around Melbourne to find amazing architecture and beauty and that most certainly was the case for Rippon Lea.

Rippon Lea

Rippon Lea was constructed at a time when there was considerable wealth in Victoria, which led to the development of numerous ornate mansions in Melbourne and in rural areas, known as 'Boom' style or 'Victorian Italianate'. 

In 1868 Frederick Thomas Sargood bought 27 hectares (a little over 66 acres) of scrub at Elsternwickon to establish his dream home and garden.  He named the property after his mother, Emma Rippon, adding 'lea', an old English word for meadow.

Rippon Lea is just exquisite in its style and as one walked throughout the house you could easily imagine the parties, etc. that were held there and walking out around the grounds what a fabulous place to grow up at.  Some of the indoor pictures I took aren't the best as no flash photography was allowed so I found that using sepia in editing actually made some of the pictures presentable.

In several of the pictures you'll notice a 'Ripplea Bear' tucked in a corner here or there.  There are at least one in every room and many times more than one.  Supposedly the Ripplea Bear has lived at the mansion for over 140 years but I think it's just an adorable way to raise money for the upkeep.  The kids that were on the tour with us seemed to enjoy trying to spy where Ripplea Bear had been tucked away in each room...ok...so did I!

As exquisite as the mansion was inside walking around the grounds was peaceful and had quite a variety of flowers that I had fun photographing but I did not include any in the photo album as I combined many of the flower pictures for the blog from yesterday 'It's Just a Weed'.

Until next time...wherever you are have a great day!!

If you would like to see pictures of Rippon Lea here is a link to that photo album on Picasa: 
Play slideshow

Dad 1947

A personal side note here...it's been 10 years dad and I miss you every day.  You were such an avid baseball player and a fan of the game it has always been ironic that you passed on Opening Day of the Major League baseball season and talk about a die hard New York Yankees fan.  You may have always been a bit quiet about it but we all knew that you weren't backing the Minnesota Twins when they played the Yankees and that was just fine.  I'll bet you and mom will have front row seats when they play the Detroit Tigers tomorrow.  Love and miss you both!!