Noorilim sale may be close

The mansion, and 64 hectares fronting the Goulburn River, was put on the market earlier this year by the family of the late Rod Menzies, a Melbourne-based art dealer.

Noorilim operated as a distinguished stud farm in the early part of the 20th century and three winners of Australia's greatest race, the Melbourne Cup, originated from the property.

The 1910 cup winner and champion stallion Comedy King stood at Noorilim and is buried in the grounds beneath a giant Moreton Bay fig.

The property features vineyards, sprawling botanic gardens with an ornamental lake and boathouse, pastures, a sandy beach and numerous historical outbuildings.

Noorilim was created by architect James Gall for parliamentarian William Winter-Irving and built during the post-gold rush economic boom.

The mansion’s imposing facade with majestic tower, elaborately arched verandahs, grand columns and balustrading complements the estate’s meticulously tended gardens, adding to its timeless appeal.

The 20 rooms of immense proportions have soaring ceilings, rich ornamentation, ageless craftsmanship and opulent decor.

Lavish interiors include a library, study, 10 bedrooms, 15 fireplaces, seven staircases, servants’ quarters, cellars and a minstrels’ gallery — where Australia’s internationally renowned operatic soprano, Dame Nellie Melba, once sang to an enraptured audience.

The grand hall is dominated by Corinthian columns, five-metre ceilings and elaborate cornices, and features Minton tiles laid by Italian artisans brought out especially for the commission.

Adjacent to the grand hall are the sitting room, library and dining room, all with full-height windows offering views onto the arched loggia. To the opposite side of the hall, hidden behind a wall are the main kitchen, scullery, pantry and staff quarters.

The library features an ornate fireplace, intricately embellished mouldings and damask wallpaper. The baronial dining room boasts an elaborate ceiling with detailed cornicing, richly embossed wallpaper, an ornate mirror above a black marble fireplace, vibrant red drapes and a table fit for entertaining royalty.

Atop Noorilim’s grand main staircase, the spectacular master bedroom suite boasts rich red walls, a white marble fireplace and full-height windows with picturesque views of the estate.

Designed by William Guilfoyle circa 1880, renowned for his work on Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, the grounds feature more than 300 established trees, including ancient Moreton Bay figs, an Italian garden, circular rose garden with central fountain and expansive rolling lawns.

The gardens are home to more than 150 species of native birds and mammals, while further afield 30 hectares of vines produce an annual harvest of Rhone grape varietals, which the region is celebrated for.

William Winter-Irving also owned the Stanhope and Colbinabbin homesteads in central Victoria.

His brother James Winter (1834-1885) built Dhurringile, which is a former prison.

Noorilim is being offered for sale through Christie’s International principal Sean Cussell.