Visit Gulf Station and learn what life was like for a family living on the land in nineteenth century Australia.
Gulf Station is an extraordinary survival of Victoria’s farming heritage, showcasing self-sufficiency and resilience.
The farm buildings are all hand constructed using traditional techniques making use of the materials available. They show the development of the farm and its domestic uses.
Scottish immigrants Agnes and William Bell colonised the land in the 1850s to run a farm. The practical and hardworking Bell family were generous, resourceful and kind. They ran the Station for 100 years. Mary Anne Bell was the matriarch and after her husband died, she continued to run the property.
Hospitality was a matter of honour for the Bells, and no guest left without a hamper of farm produce.
During the gold rushes, the family prospered feeding diggers heading to the gold fields.
The National Trust acquired stewardship of the property in 1976 and restored its buildings and cottage garden.
Gulf Station Open Days
First Thursday & Last Sunday of the Month
Families can choose a guided tour at 11:30 am or roam at their own pace, wandering through the homestead, old schoolhouse, and outbuildings. Meet the friendly Clydesdales, visit the sheep, and explore the sheds and barns where you can imagine life on a working farm.
Bring a picnic to enjoy on the lawn and immerse yourself in the domestic life of a colonial farming family, where a mother’s word was law and hard work was part of daily life.
