Thomas Austin

Thomas Austin was born at Balbonsborough, in Somersetshire, in the year 1816. His elder brothers Solomon and Josiah, had emigrated to Tasmania to join their uncle, and having prospered, Josiah, returned home around 1830 to bring his parents and other siblings – James, William, Thomas and sister to Tasmania. Thomas joined his brothers, who were stockbrokers and owners of the Hobart ferry on the south side of the Derwent. Five years later Solomon, Josiah and Thomas crossed Bass Strait and took up land in the Winchelsea and Birregurra area. Thomas called his acreage ‘Barwon Park’ which he used for grazing sheep and training horses.

A member of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, which introduced new animals and plants to the colony, Austin brought from England hares, blackbirds and partridges. In 1859 he also brought 24 rabbits to breed as game for his shooting parties. Although welcomed at the time, Austin is now blamed for introducing this serious pest to Australia.

Embarrassed by having to entertain the visiting Duke of Edinburgh at an undistinguished homestead, pioneer pastoralist Thomas Austin and his wife Elizabeth built this lavish 42 room mansion in 1871.

Thomas Austin died just six months after it was completed, but Elizabeth lived at Barwon Park for many years and became a noted philanthropist.

The house then passed into the hands of the Batson family who later bequeathed it to the National Trust.