Sherbrooke, Victoria, 3789
01.
Population
The population of Sherbrooke from the 2016 Census was 265 .
02.
Median
The median house price for Sherbrooke in 2021 was not available due to low number of sales
03.
Highest
In 2011, the highest price achieved for a home in Sherbrooke was $695,000
In 2021, the highest price achieved for a home in Sherbrooke was $1,600,000
04.
Lowest
In 2011, the lowest price achieved for a home in Sherbrooke was $460,000
In 2021, the lowest price achieved for a home in Sherbrooke was $1,230,000
All statistics and numbers were obtained using Corelogic
SHERBROOKE, VICTORIA 3789
SHERBROOKE, TOORAK OF THE HILLS
If Toorak was transplanted into the middle of a forest with tree ferns, towering Mountain Ash, waterfalls and trails winding amongst the local flora and fauna, the mansions and cottages surrounded by stunning gardens then it would be called ‘Sherbrooke’.
Some of the Hills finest homes are here, Edna Walling was popular and if you are fortunate you may be invited into a home that has it’s very own miniature village.
Sherbrooke is commutable to Melbourne (only 35ks) yet in a whole different world (climate included). There are only 108 dwellings and a grand population of 294.
Homes are tightly held and the occupancy rate is 92.4% in 2021 versus 79% in 2011, clearly Melbournites have woken up to the benefits of living here and catching the train from Upper Ferntree Gully (10 minutes), driving in to the office or working from home.
Median house price is $1,054,362 and the highest sold price in 2022 so far was $2,880,000.
Back in 2011 you could have bought a home for $460,000 or paid a maximum price of $695,000. In 2021, the lowest sale price was $1,230,000 and the highest $1,600,00, not a great deal of difference there!
EARLY MEMORIES
Fundraisers at the Baron of Beef (Marybrooke), Presentation nights, weddings, funerals and work group meetings. Running the trails during Girl Guides and wandering the many trails.
Back in the 1970s, the trails were not clearly marked, the paths were rough and bridges were few.
Burnham Beeches was operational as a very exclusive hotel from 1981 to 1991 having been a research facility, children’s hospital and private residence. Woods was the Sherbrooke Post Office and store and Poets Lane Reception was Gypsy Princess Receptions, Sherbrooke Celeste another Function Centre as was Sherbrooke Lodge.
Poets Lane, Woods, and Marybrooke are still operating, the others are private homes,
Burnham Beeches has been bought (from Shannon Bennets group) by the Trenerry Group who recently restored the Sorrento Hotel. Locals are optimistic that this time it will actually be restored without needing to carve the surrounding land into little holiday units.
No mention of Sherbrooke is complete without mention of Alfred Nicholas of Aspro fame.
From an architectural viewpoint Melbourne was once rich with buildings owned by the Nicholas family, many have now been demolished which is a great pity.
These buildings included: Burnham Beeches, their corporate office on Warrigal Rd, the Nicholas Building in Swanston St (now home to over 200 artists creatives and other enterprises) also designed by Harry Norris (a neighbour of Alfred Nicholas).
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nicholas-alfred-michael-7836
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnham_Beeches,_Sherbooke
https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/gid/slv-pic-aab55474/1/a22096
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Building
PLACES OF SHERBROOKE
BURNHAM BEECHES
The recent opportunity to go to the mansion and hear about the Trenerry groups plans was not one to be missed. Their restoration plans and the announcement of the wellness group Six Senses coming on board should make for an incredible destination experience.
The Rone Empire installation at Burnham Beeches was an incredible experience with tickets highly sought after. We were fortunate to secure tickets with a meal preceding at the adjacent “The Piggery”. Seeing the mansion at night and sitting side by side (quite closely) to random people on a very long table for a communal meal was amazing.
GEORGE TINDALE GARDENS
George Tindale was a research scientist at the Victorian Department of Agriculture. He and his wife Ruth bought the Sherbrooke property “Pallants Hill” and continued to develop the garden into a year round vista. After his death in 1977, Ruth continued to manage the property until 1980 when she donated the property to the Victorian Conservation Trust.
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/george-tindale-memorial-gardens
ALFRED NICHOLAS GARDENS
The gardens surrounding the Burnham Beeches Estate of Alfred Nicholas. Now managed by Parks Victoria it attracts vast numbers of visitors each weekend. My recommendation is to go mid week – particularly in Autumn where the stunning foliage throughout the garden and around the lakes deserves to be seen without hordes of other visitors. Beautiful at any time of year, photos of the boat shed would be one of the most common photos taken in the Dandenong Ranges.
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/sites/alfred-nicholas-memorial-garden
MARYBROOKE
Built in 1940 on the site of an earlier guest house “Grendon”, was one of a chain of guesthouses, masterminded by Eric Dowdle, that featured the prefix “Mary” including Marylands, Mary Lyn, Mary Lodge and Mary Meadows.
Marybrooke Manor is an imposing Tudor style building that offers a selection of function spaces as well as accommodation.
Once renowned as Jack Farrs, the Baron of Beef, bought by the Farr family in 1966, it became a renowned medieval theatre style restaurant, even hosting the announcement of the Skyhooks USA record deal in 1975
POETS LANE
Poets Lane is a beautiful wedding venue and motel in Sherbrooke.
In the 1970s and 80s the venue was known as the Gypsy Princess.
WOODS RESTAURANT
Once upon a time this was the Sherbrooke Post Office and store. Our early photo shows the young growth of the beautiful garden that exists now.
For smaller, more intimate functions Woods is on my familys list of favourite venues in the Hills.
MEMORIAL CAIRN
Dedicated to Ambrose Pratt, author, journalist and zoologist, in 1944.
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pratt-ambrose-goddard-hesketh-8096
The cairn is on the side of an old track (now overgrown) near O’Donaghue picnic ground.
There is still a lot of storm damage to the tracks and trails of Sherbrooke Forest and many will be impassable. Dogs are not allowed here.
Thanks to Paul Wicks for many of the images of Sherbrooke.
