"Blythewood Grange"
is the original name of the bluestone mansion & property that was built by James Leckie in 1878
This is home for the next four nights. It is now a Wyndham vacations resort & we are lucky enough to be owners & get to stay in this lovely place
James Leckie was born in Airdie, Lankarkshire in Scotland in 1839. He arrived in Geelong in 1852 with his fathers family & commenced work as an office boy for an auctioneer in Geelong,
In 1854 at the age of 15 James came to Ballarat arriving 3 days after the Eureka riots.
James tried mining @ Golden Point with some success & then went to Magpie Goldfields & again was lucky
James married Jane in 1862 & they had eleven children
St Josephs Home
The property was purchased by the Roman Catholic church & opened as a Home for Boys from 1913 till 1981. It nurtured & educated nearly 2,500 children most of whom arrived as babies & stayed till sixteen.
The property was purchased by Trendwest (Wyndham) in 2003 & converted into a resort, conference centre & wedding venue
A stroll around the beautiful gardens & lake
Some friendly neighbours
The stables
Games in the gardens
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