Dhurringile Estate
Tucked behind the red gums near Murchison lies Dhurringile—a striking 19th-century mansion with a rich, layered history and deep roots in the Goulburn Valley.
Originally built in 1876 by wealthy pastoralist James Winter, the estate was once one of the grandest homesteads in regional Victoria. Crafted in Italianate style, Dhurringile is heritage-listed for its architectural and cultural significance. Over time, it has served as a private mansion, a boys’ training school, a wartime internment facility, and most recently, a minimum-security prison.
Today, Destination Goulburn Valley is championing a bold new chapter for Dhurringile. We’re advocating for the site’s preservation and reinvention as a vibrant tourism and community asset—one that honours its past while unlocking its potential for the future.
What’s Next for Dhurringile Mansion?
Dhurringile Mansion has had four very different occupants under its roof over the years, with a range of uses extending across the surrounding farmland. The property—including the mansion, stables, and shearing shed—is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and recognised as being “of architectural, historical and social significance to the State of Victoria.”
Beyond its cultural value, the economic impact of reactivating Dhurringile could be immense. If the right ‘fifth life’ can be secured, it has the potential to deliver far-reaching benefits for the Goulburn Valley region—stimulating tourism, creating jobs, and providing new spaces for accommodation, events, and education.
Dhurringile mansion. (Photo by Helen Newton)
Honouring the Past, Investing in the Future
A bold regional vision to restore a historic site and create a thriving community hub for generations to come.
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We are committed to honouring Dhurringile’s layered past—preserving the mansion, stables, and surrounding buildings as important touchstones of Victorian heritage. This includes showcasing its many lives as a pastoral estate, internment site, youth facility, and most recently, a minimum-security prison. Through storytelling, interpretation, and sensitive restoration, we aim to protect and share the estate’s legacy for generations to come.
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Our vision includes thoughtfully designed accommodation that serves both visitors and the growing needs of the region’s workforce. From boutique guest stays to practical and well-located workforce housing, Dhurringile offers a unique opportunity to balance tourism with regional infrastructure needs—supporting both the visitor economy and local industries.
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Set among red gums and open skies, Dhurringile has the potential to offer inviting campgrounds for travellers and locals alike. With its location along the Murchison-Violet Town Road and connection to surrounding towns, a campground would provide the perfect stop for weekenders exploring the Goulburn Valley’s food, wine, and natural beauty.
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Dhurringile’s historic stables and open space make it an ideal site for a National Equestrian Centre—offering facilities for training, competitions, agistment, and community events. Such a centre would serve local equestrian networks while attracting visitors and participants from across the country, creating new jobs and boosting regional tourism.
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Concerts, weddings, exhibitions, and seasonal festivals
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Caravan and camping expos, markets, and open-air experiences
This project offers a unique opportunity to connect heritage with hospitality, and community with economic potential. From educational tours to equestrian events and luxury stays, Dhurringile could once again serve as a regional landmark and gateway to the stories of our past.
286 hectares (640 acres) of underutilised Crown land in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley
Iconic 1870s Italianate mansion with striking architectural and cultural value
Deep historic significance, including use as a WWII internment and POW camp a rich narrative offering compelling heritage and military tourism potential
Rich local history spanning pastoral, wartime, migrant and corrections eras
Direct access to the Goulburn Valley Highway and just 30 minutes from Shepparton
Approximately 2 hours from Melbourne CBD and Melbourne Airport
The closure of Dhurringile prison in 2024 presents a rare opportunity to transform a heritage-listed estate into a world-leading, multi-use regional asset — blending immersive heritage tourism, luxury accommodation, and equestrian excellence.
~25 minutes from Mangalore Airport, capable of receiving diverted international flights and livestock quarantine (ideal for equine logistics)
Less than 60 minutes to Bendigo Airport and regional rail connections
Existing infrastructure suitable for immediate adaptive reuse
Ample space for accommodation, events and equestrian development
Strong alignment with Victorian Government objectives in regional development, asset renewal, and tourism growth
Ideal platform for public private investment and long-term activation
1965-2024 – Correctional Facility
1948-1965 Rural Training Farm boys arriving in Australia Source: Murchison Historical society
1877- and other owners to 1930s
Mansion surrounded by barbed wire security fence. Source: Australian War Memorial
1877
Construction of Dhurringile Mansion. Built as a pastoral homestead by James Winter, the estate reflects the wealth and ambition of Victoria’s early settlers
1907
Everard Browne
1915
Mr K. C. Harper
1925
Vincent Vernon Hart
1938
Mr Jack Lowry purchases 539 acres, the Gatekeeper’s cottage, stables and shearing shed. In 1941 Jack marries. Knowla Furphy and they remain on their farm adjacent to the Mansion at Dhurringile until 1975.
1939—1947
Dhurringile becomes part of Australia’s wartime history
History, Legacy and a Unique Opportunity
1939—1940
Internment camp for civilian detainees deemed ‘enemy aliens’, mainly of German and Italian descent
1941—1947
Prisoner of War camp for German officers and their batmen.
1939—1947
Dhurringile becomes part of Australia’s wartime history
1948—1965
Rural Training Farm. Presbyterian Church purchases Mansion and 100 acres to form a training farm for boys from Great Britain who had lost family during the war.
1965—2024
Victorian Government purchase 100 acres and mansion to form a low security prison. In 1975 they purchased the outbuildings and 539 acres owned by Jack and Knowla Lowry (nee Furphy) to expand the site
The redevelopment of Dhurringile aligns with our broader regional goals: to boost tourism, strengthen community pride, attract investment, and preserve the heritage that makes the Goulburn Valley unique. With your support, we can ensure this incredible site is not lost to time, but restored and reimagined for future generations to explore, enjoy and learn from.
Riding into the Future
Dhurringile is primed to become a premier equestrian hub, with space for cutting, dressage, show jumping, polo and pony club. Its vast grounds and heritage buildings can host multiple events at once, with facilities repurposed into stables, arenas and rider amenities. With this unique mix, Dhurringile is ready to attract state and national competitions.
Heritage & Experiences
This 1870s Italianate mansion is one of Victoria’s most compelling heritage properties, with history ranging from wartime internment to decades as a corrections site. Its character, scale and setting create powerful opportunities for adaptive reuse, opening the door to immersive stays, cultural events and community pride.
Unique Selling Points
Dhurringile Estate spans 259 hectares of Crown land, anchored by an iconic Italianate mansion and layered with stories from its WWII internment and corrections past. Just 30 minutes from Shepparton and two hours from Melbourne, its strategic location places it at the heart of regional renewal and a rare chance for cultural and economic transformation.
We’re building a coalition of partners who believe in the power of place and the long-term value of economic and community investment. This project is about more than preserving history—it’s about creating jobs, boosting tourism, and strengthening regional pride. Together, we have the opportunity to revive Dhurringile’s heritage buildings, expand local tourism and events, attract regional and national visitation, and position the estate as a host for major equestrian competitions, securing its future for the next 100 years.
You can follow the journey and read regular updates on our blog, and we encourage anyone interested in learning more or exploring partnership opportunities to reach out directly. Let’s make it happen—together.
Want to learn more or get involved? Let’s talk.
