Welcome to Gulf Station – the Yarra Valley’s pioneer working farm

Located less than an hour away from Melbourne’s CBD in the picturesque Yarra Valley, Gulf Station is one of the oldest and most intact timber farm complexes in Australia. Built in the 1850s, the historic homestead is the heart of Gulf Station. It is surrounded by many original outbuildings such as the barn, dairy, schoolhouse and butcher shop.

Currently the Station is not open to the public or taking group/education/ wedding bookings until we complete our vital renovation projects at Gulf Station this year (see details below).

Gulf Station Renovations

Gulf Station is currently undergoing a program of essential restoration works to conserve the significant heritage buildings at the site.

Conservation and reinterpretation of the homestead will take place and restoration of the school house (Yarra Glen's original school house from 1860) and a number of other buildings will occur. A feasibility study will also be undertaken to position Gulf Station as an important heritage site for the region.

In addition to the above, the National Trust is working with Heritage Victoria to save an 1870's prefabricated timber house from North Croydon which is of State significance and that was threatened by development. This important property will be relocated to Gulf Station to further develop facilities for visitors and educational groups.

With a focus on the welfare of Gulf Station's animals, the Trust has taken the decision to temporarily relocate them to more appropriate homes, including Mooramong Farm, another rural National Trust property, for the duration of the project.

Due to the extent of the restoration works, the property will be closed to general visitation however a series of open days are proposed throughout the period to allow visitors to learn about and experience the changing face of the property. The project is being supported by the State Government and Heritage Council.

750 attend the Gulf Station open day on 18 April, 2010

Cross-generational families turned up in droves to attend the Family Picnic Open day at Gulf Station on Sunday 18 April as part of the Trust’s weekend celebrations around ICOMOS International Day for Monuments & Sites. The day ran successfully with the heritage farm property teeming with activity including the Trust’s Clydesdale horses, wood chopping, wrangling, sheep shearing, the local CFA, the sounds of the formidable Tanjil River Band and feverous tool fashioning from the Australian Blacksmiths Association. Conservation Manager, Paul Roser said of the day: “The vision for Gulf Station is as a living farm, to celebrate the intangible as well as the tangible culture of this historic farm property. Last Sunday’s event demonstrated how the community can be at the centre of this vision.”