A Rich
HISTORY
William Edward Stanbridge’s journey to Wombat Park begins far from the red volcanic soils of Daylesford. He was born on December 1, 1816, in the quiet village of Astley, nestled near Coventry in the English county of Warwickshire. The son of Edward and Anne Stanbridge (née Crofts), William grew up in a world of English countryside and tradition—but like many of his generation, he was drawn by the promise of something new.
In 1841, he made the long voyage to the colony of Port Phillip, arriving in what is now Victoria. A young man in search of opportunity, he found it on the wide open plains of central Victoria, where he took up land as a squatter in what was then known as the Wombat Run.
By 1852, William had formally purchased the land and oversaw its survey at the same time as the township of Wombat—which would later be renamed Daylesford. Two years later, in 1854, he built the estate’s very first cottage along the banks of Spring Creek. Remarkably, that humble structure still stands today, tucked below the grander homestead that would come later.
As the years passed, Stanbridge’s ambitions took shape in brick and timber. By 1860, he had constructed a substantial stable and coach house, and by 1872, a second, more expansive homestead—later relocated to the town itself in the 1930s. But Stanbridge wasn’t only building homes; he was also cultivating beauty. In the rich, volcanic soil of the estate, he laid out a garden that would become one of the estate’s greatest treasures.
Winding paths of crushed quartz once edged garden beds lined with box hedges. Towering above were majestic conifers: rare Spanish firs (Abies pinsapo), an avenue of stately cedars, and an extraordinary Mexican pine nut (Pinus quadrifolia var. parryana)—now protected on the National Trust’s Significant Tree Register. These trees still cast shadows over the garden today, reminders of Stanbridge’s vision.
But William Stanbridge was not only a landowner and gardener—he was also a civic leader. He served as Mayor on the Daylesford Council and was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly, using his voice to shape the future of the growing colony.
When he passed away on April 5, 1894, at the age of 77, William Edward Stanbridge left behind more than wealth. He left a legacy of vision, ambition, and enduring connection to the land. He was laid to rest in a family vault at the Daylesford cemetery, his story forever entwined with the soil, stone, and trees of Wombat Park.
