MOUNT MACEDON MOUNT MACEDON ROAD 229, DRUSILLA, NOW MARIST BROTHERS RETREAT -MRHLS 1992-3 sheet 31 5
Graeme Butler - 1992 survey images from Macedon Ranges cultural heritage and landscape study 1994:
`The planting on the property reputedly began with Madame Weigel, a fashionable and wealthy paper pattern maker, in c1890. She is said to have planted the huge oaks in the front lawn and built her house between them It was reputedly burnt 1903 and replaced by the next owners, the Andrew Murray family, in 1908.
Oscar Weigel (gentleman, care of Madam Weigel, Richmond) was the rated occupier and owner of the site in 1907-8 when it was `land and outbuildings on 27 acres, near the Lillies Leaf holding. In that year he sold it to a grazier, Andrew Murray of New Gisborne{ RB1907-8,997; RB1908-9,791}. Murray added a `villa and cottage' to the site almost immediately and kept the site until its sale to Phelia (Mrs Norton ) Grimwade c1918, then of Homeden, Toorak{ RB1917-18,1035}.
Meanwhile Norton Grimwade (listed as a chemist) had owned Montpellier which was located elsewhere on the mountain{ RB1910-11,683}. The 1920s meant increased annual valuation for Drusilla, indicating some form of general improvement which may have included the existing Bungalow style house formerly used by the manager{ RB1919-20,734 190 pounds; RB1924,713 225 pounds; RB1930,739 234 pounds}.
A member of the famous drug-manufacturing family, Edward Norton Grimwade and his wife Phelia, commissioned architects Godfrey & Spowers in 1931 to design the present house, no doubt benefiting from the cheap labour available during the depression. The house still cost 39,500 pounds once completed in 1932, reputedly replacing the Murray house of 1908.
Life there followed a luxurious course, with servants, the acquisition of a valuable art collection, and entertaining until the war forced the closure of the house and the Grimwades to shift into the manager's residence. Mrs Grimwade died in 1943, followed soon after by her husband: the house and contents were auctioned over many days at the close of 1945.
The Marist Brothers purchased Drusilla for 14,700 pounds. When the property was sold in 1945 the auction brochure listed all fittings/furnishings. The Marist Brothers made alterations in 1947 (back stair, underground water tank) to accommodate a Juniorate (preparation for the priesthood) and later a Novitiate which functioned there until 1977. It has been used as a retreat since, particularly for youth
E Norton Grimwade (1866-1945)
The eldest son of Frederich & Jessie Grimwade, he was the co-recipient of his father's share of the large chemical firm, Felton Grimwade & Co. who also developed a glass making industry which was to become ACI. After an education at Melbourne Grammar, Edward was sent overseas to learn the trade from London druggists but had to return home early and finished his course at the Melbourne College of Pharmacy with some acclaim. In 1889 he became a partner in his father's firm and two years later married Phelia Whittingham.
Drusilla became his permanent home. `A formidable man of business with an easy mastery of financial detail...'. He and his three brothers inherited his father's business at his death in 1910. Norton became chairman of directors of the Australian Glass Manufacturers P/L (once Melbourne Glass Bottle Works P/L) in 1915 and later the first chairman of Drug Houses of Australia in 1929 (retired 1937). But even by 1915, Norton & Harold `were well established as leaders of Melbourne's business life..'. Norton was also chairman of the fertilizer firm, Cumming Smith from 1920 and ACI from 1939. He had also continued his father's role as chairman of the Felton Bequest committee from 1910 where he experienced some controversy in the committee's dealings with the gallery. Phelia Grimwade House resulted from a bequest from Grimwade to Melbourne Church of England Girls Grammar School, in honor of his wife. He died at Drusilla in 1945.'
MOUNT MACEDON MOUNT MACEDON ROAD 229, DRUSILLA, NOW MARIST BROTHERS RETREAT -MRHLS 1992-3 sheet 31 5
Graeme Butler - 1992 survey images from Macedon Ranges cultural heritage and landscape study 1994:
`The planting on the property reputedly began with Madame Weigel, a fashionable and wealthy paper pattern maker, in c1890. She is said to have planted the huge oaks in the front lawn and built her house between them It was reputedly burnt 1903 and replaced by the next owners, the Andrew Murray family, in 1908.
Oscar Weigel (gentleman, care of Madam Weigel, Richmond) was the rated occupier and owner of the site in 1907-8 when it was `land and outbuildings on 27 acres, near the Lillies Leaf holding. In that year he sold it to a grazier, Andrew Murray of New Gisborne{ RB1907-8,997; RB1908-9,791}. Murray added a `villa and cottage' to the site almost immediately and kept the site until its sale to Phelia (Mrs Norton ) Grimwade c1918, then of Homeden, Toorak{ RB1917-18,1035}.
Meanwhile Norton Grimwade (listed as a chemist) had owned Montpellier which was located elsewhere on the mountain{ RB1910-11,683}. The 1920s meant increased annual valuation for Drusilla, indicating some form of general improvement which may have included the existing Bungalow style house formerly used by the manager{ RB1919-20,734 190 pounds; RB1924,713 225 pounds; RB1930,739 234 pounds}.
A member of the famous drug-manufacturing family, Edward Norton Grimwade and his wife Phelia, commissioned architects Godfrey & Spowers in 1931 to design the present house, no doubt benefiting from the cheap labour available during the depression. The house still cost 39,500 pounds once completed in 1932, reputedly replacing the Murray house of 1908.
Life there followed a luxurious course, with servants, the acquisition of a valuable art collection, and entertaining until the war forced the closure of the house and the Grimwades to shift into the manager's residence. Mrs Grimwade died in 1943, followed soon after by her husband: the house and contents were auctioned over many days at the close of 1945.
The Marist Brothers purchased Drusilla for 14,700 pounds. When the property was sold in 1945 the auction brochure listed all fittings/furnishings. The Marist Brothers made alterations in 1947 (back stair, underground water tank) to accommodate a Juniorate (preparation for the priesthood) and later a Novitiate which functioned there until 1977. It has been used as a retreat since, particularly for youth
E Norton Grimwade (1866-1945)
The eldest son of Frederich & Jessie Grimwade, he was the co-recipient of his father's share of the large chemical firm, Felton Grimwade & Co. who also developed a glass making industry which was to become ACI. After an education at Melbourne Grammar, Edward was sent overseas to learn the trade from London druggists but had to return home early and finished his course at the Melbourne College of Pharmacy with some acclaim. In 1889 he became a partner in his father's firm and two years later married Phelia Whittingham.
Drusilla became his permanent home. `A formidable man of business with an easy mastery of financial detail...'. He and his three brothers inherited his father's business at his death in 1910. Norton became chairman of directors of the Australian Glass Manufacturers P/L (once Melbourne Glass Bottle Works P/L) in 1915 and later the first chairman of Drug Houses of Australia in 1929 (retired 1937). But even by 1915, Norton & Harold `were well established as leaders of Melbourne's business life..'. Norton was also chairman of the fertilizer firm, Cumming Smith from 1920 and ACI from 1939. He had also continued his father's role as chairman of the Felton Bequest committee from 1910 where he experienced some controversy in the committee's dealings with the gallery. Phelia Grimwade House resulted from a bequest from Grimwade to Melbourne Church of England Girls Grammar School, in honor of his wife. He died at Drusilla in 1945.'