RESIDENCE.

In 1910, Florence Colles Stanbridge and her husband Herbert Montgomery Standish Cox, daughter and son-in-law of William Stanbridge, built the grand Arts and Crafts residence that defines Wombat Park today. Designed by esteemed Melbourne architect Rodney Alsop (1881–1932)—an influential advocate of the Arts and Crafts movement—, the home was complemented by a new garden created in collaboration with renowned Victorian landscape designers Taylor and Sangster.

Architecturally, the house stands as a remarkably intact expression of the English-inspired Arts and Crafts tradition. Its design demonstrates a careful integration of exterior and interior elements, spatial planning, and the use of natural materials. The interior detailing is particularly notable, with finely crafted timberwork seen in the panelled walls, balustrades—importantly stained rather than painted—intricate fretwork, and high-quality window joinery. Many original features have been preserved, including light fittings and door hardware, offering a rare glimpse into the design sensibilities of the period.

Historically, Wombat Park is significant for its continuous function as a substantial rural estate since the mid-nineteenth century. This enduring use not only reflects the evolution of country living in Victoria but also underscores the estate’s role in the broader narrative of regional settlement, architecture, and landscape development.