Miller's Homestead |
The homestead was built about 130 years ago and was the home of J.J.Miller, the first president of the Ferntree Gully Shire.
The 19th century building at 30 Dorrigo Drive is one of the oldest surviving houses in Knox and is used for functions and weddings, and its gardens hired out for wedding photos.
Miller is best known to punters for the production of Miller's Guide, a horse racing guide.
Miller's Homestead is under threat of sale by the Knox City Council.
Date of Construction: 1888
Type of Place: Formerly a private residence.
Owned by the City of Knox as part of Knox Heritage and used for exhibitions, seminars and performances.
Listing Status: Classified National Trust Australia (Vic.) File No. 2173.
Building Citation for the National Trust Victoria
(Melrose), Miller Road, The Basin, is a single storey villa erected for former printer and first Shire President James John Miller in 1888.
The stuccoed dwelling, which replaced an 1870's house, is believed to have been designed by English architect Thomas Hunter. Symmetrical in design, the dwelling is characterised by its two large bay windows with French doors instead of windows and by the encircling timber and cast iron verandah.
Construction is in brick with a corrugated iron hipped roof. (Melrose), Miller Road, The Basin, is an Italianate Boom style villa of consequence for its historical associations with the settlement of the district and especially with first Shire President James John Miller, who built the house. The house is part of the historic landscape of the district and is architecturally of note.
While a fairly typical house of its period, (Melrose) is unusual for the use of French doors instead of windows and for the mergings of the bay window roofs into the ridge, a most uncommon detail.
Statement of Significance
This single storey Victorian residence was the home of James John Miller, the first President of Ferntree Gully Shire (1889).
Stables and training facilities were established out of wilderness and scrub on the original property bounded by Miller Rd, Albert Ave and Mountain Hwy, which was just over 77 acres. Miller owned other blocks adjacent to this property including the entire shopping centre area in The Basin, well over 400 acres in total.
The building is the best example of the Victorian style boom era of the 1880's in the City of Knox, and has been restored faithfully. The garden has also been landscaped as far as possible to the original design with propagation of remnants of vegetation including a camellia walkway dating from the 1890's.
Weddings
The gardens are available for hire for weddings. For further information about having your wedding at Millers Homestead please view the Miller's Homestead hire Information sheet below or contact Knox City Council Customer Service on 9298 8000.
Please note that due to current circumstances, Miller's Homestead is closed. Council will not be accepting any bookings for Miller's Homestead for the foreseeable future. Officers are busy working on revitalising Millers Homestead in order to open up to the community in late 2021.
❊ Address ❊
⊜ 30 Dorrigo Drive, Boronia View Map
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ Miller's Homestead
Disclaimer: Check with the venue (web links) before making plans, travelling or buying tickets.
Accessibility: Contact the venue for accessibility information.
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