Yarra Glen can be explored through a range of themes: the agricultural heritage of Gulf Station, the garden areas of Alowyn Gardens and the history of the Yarra Valley Grand Hotel. Greenstone Cellar Door adds another dimension with its location in the owners’ original home, among vineyards at the foot of the Christmas Hills. The range therefore spans historic buildings, garden culture and a vineyard setting.
Agricultural heritage at Gulf Station
Gulf Station is a preserved testament to Victoria’s agricultural heritage. The farm buildings were built by hand using traditional techniques and available materials; they illustrate the farm’s development and its domestic use. Here, two sides of the farm’s history come together: how the buildings were constructed and how the homestead was used in everyday domestic life.
On opening days, families can join a guided tour at 11:30 am or explore the homestead, gardens, old schoolhouse and historic outbuildings at their own pace. The tour has a set start time, while independent visits let you set your own pace. The two options therefore offer different ways to experience the visit.
Garden areas and seasonal displays
Alowyn Gardens is an award-winning display garden covering seven acres, with nine distinct garden areas and seasonal displays. The nine areas give the grounds a varied layout, while the displays add seasonal highlights. Unlike Gulf Station, the focus here is on the gardens themselves rather than farm buildings. Visitors looking to focus on garden culture will find a different way to explore Yarra Glen.
Hotel history and vineyard setting
The Yarra Valley Grand Hotel was built in 1888 as the Burgoyne Hotel and renamed in 1905; it is listed by the National Trust. The two dates mark the building’s construction and its change of name, giving the hotel’s history a clear chronology. This makes it distinct from the agricultural development highlighted at Gulf Station.
Greenstone Cellar Door is housed in the owners’ original home and is located among vineyards at the foot of the Christmas Hills. The home and vineyard setting offer a different point of interest from the historic farmstead or the hotel’s dated history. These differences can help you choose the focus of your stay according to your interests: historic agriculture, a particular hotel’s history or a location among vineyards.
Plan your market visit and travel dates
The Yarra Glen Racecourse Market offers fresh, homemade goods. If you plan to visit the market, check the current market calendar before your trip. The attractions offer different points of reference when planning your timing: Gulf Station’s opening days and 11:30 am tour, the seasonal displays at Alowyn Gardens and the market dates. Take these differences into account when planning your trip, especially if one of these activities is important to you.
Discover more destinations: Wheelers Hill, Ferntree Gully, Keilor, Essendon, Yarra Junction, Brunswick, Doncaster East, Attwood
For the broader travel guide: Melbourne.
