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Home Accommodation Special Events Cottage at Dudley Tariffs Inquiries Dudley House - History
	Built as a guesthouse in 1908, the Edwardian Era, by four sisters, Miniver Blampied, Anne O'Grady, Janet Alcorn and Mary Harding who came from Rutherglen, their former residence, "Rockmartin," is now the site of a hospital. The phylloxia virus had attacked their father's vineyard and they established Dudley House as a business to support themselves and their families. Dudley House was built, in Federation Style, by W.F. Coltman, Builders of Ballarat. By 1917 it had been extended sufficiently to contain 38 bedrooms and accommodate up to 60 guests. In the picture gallery, at Dudley House, there are several photographs and postcards of Dudley House, in the 20's and 30's, when it hosted guests, from Melbourne and Wheat Farmers, and their families, from the Mallee and Wimmera who came to' take the waters.' They entertained themselves in the Cricket Team, or on the Tennis Courts, now the site of Hepburn Motel. They also partied on the verandah which used to extend the full length of the side of the house, that is parallel to Ninth Street. The verandah also acted as the 'children's dining room.'  Return guests, who once visited the house as children, remember the strict rules about children having to eat, on the verandah, in all weathers! The long linen blinds were pulled down to offer some shelter from inclement conditions. The house remained in the same family until the late 1960s when it was abandoned and fell into disrepair. In the early 1970's, the house was purchased, by a local electrician and his father, and the fabric of the house was restored and rewired. Two wings were removed from the main building. One, adjacent on Main Road, is now a private residence, the other, which has been replaced by the garage, was a music room with bedrooms below. Over the past few years Dudley House has been redecorated, refurbished and restored to recapture its original Edwardian elegance and ambience.  As far as possible many original features have been retained, including the fireplaces, the stained glass, in the bay window in the sitting room, formerly known as the 'Reading Room,' the etched doors in the Day Room and Dining Room that were installed in the 1920's Art Deco period. The couch in the Entrance Hall is a piece of original Victorian furniture. It was used at the reception desk for weary travels, to rest, whilst being allocated their accommodation. The cupboard in the Day Room is the Butler's Pantry where the silver and table needs were stored. The office was formerly the upstairs maid's room. The display cabinet in the Entrance Hall contains some original English ironstone crockery, bearing the name Dudley House, that was imported for use in the house. It also bears the Royal Crest although we have no proof of any member of the Royal Family staying as a guest, well not yet anyway!