Mulberry Hill, the home of Sir Daryl and Lady Joan Lindsay, has reopened after its two-month hiatus.

Sir Daryl, a successful printmaker and painter, was director of the National Gallery of Victoria from 1941 to 1956 and helped establish the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) in 1956, becoming its first president.  Lady Joan, a writer and artist best known for the classic novel Picnic at Hanging Rock, also wrote Time Without Clocks, which focused on the couple’s life together at Mulberry Hill.  It’s no surprise, given their dedication to the arts, that the Lindsays bequeathed the house and its contents to the National Trust.

In 1925, Sir Daryl and Lady Joan added an American Colonial-style house to the pre-existing four-room 1880s weatherboard cottage on the property and transformed it into the house you can see today.  Set on a stunning 11.7ha block surrounded by picturesque countryside, Mulberry Hill is filled with fine Georgian furniture and glassware, Staffordshire ceramics and a collection of Australian art. When you enter the house you’re instantly transported back in time to see first-hand how the Lindsays lived. You can inspect Sir Daryl’s painting projects and see the typewriter that Lady Joan used.

Guided tours will enable you to discover how the home was created with mementos of the Lindsays’ world travels while making use of local reclaimed materials.  National Trust guides can answer any questions that may arise as you bask in the diverse works of art and rich history that the property has to offer. Wander among the grounds as you locate the Lindsays’ original vegetable garden and stumble upon simple outbuildings used to maintain the property.  You can also pack a picnic to enjoy on the lawn under a mulberry tree.

Mulberry Hill, 385 Golf Links Rd, Langwarrin South, is open on Sundays from 11am-4pm for guided tours (last admission to the house is 3.30pm) and by appointment for special events. It is closed during July and August and on Christmas Day.  Admission is $4 for children, $7 concession, $10 for adults and $26 for a family of two adults and two children; National Trust members are admitted free of charge. To arrange a group tour or acquire tickets, phone the booking office on 9656 9889 weekdays. 

For more details, go to nationaltrust.org.au/places/mulberry-hill/