Brolga Hill Estate: Blending European Charm With Australian Beauty
Set in the rolling hills of Smeaton, Brolga Hill Estate blends European charm with Australian beauty. With its antique-filled villa and gardens that feel timeless, it’s a place made for slowing down and celebrating. Created with love and intention, Brolga Hill Estate offers couples a destination that feels both far away and right at home.
Who is Brolga Hill Estate, and how did the venue come to be?
Brolga Hill Estate is a European-style destination created by our love of travel. Both the gardens and the house itself grew together, complementing one another's needs.
With backgrounds in Art Direction and events, we created and curated the space to feel as though it had been here forever, and in fact, part of the original property has been utilised since the 1880s. The original settlers of the region were Swiss Italian, and they have kept that tradition alive. Beyond that, the traditional owners were the Dja Dja Wurrung, and that is also celebrated in the name.
After collecting pieces for years, building the estate around us, and with the five children that we brought up here vacating the family home, it was time to share the location with others. We had planned in advance for this inevitability and began creating the garden spaces for that specific purpose years ago.
When did you open your doors to weddings, and what inspired you to create a destination-style estate in Smeaton?
We opened the wedding side of the business three seasons ago after a number of years of successful holiday rentals and dabbling in events.
When you look at the countryside that surrounds the property, you are often reminded of the rolling Tuscan hills. That, combined with the established gardens, the European-style villa already stuffed with antiques and beautiful design, all a short distance from Daylesford, it was a no-brainer.
What services do you offer today, and what makes your approach to weddings unique?
Our philosophy is to work with each couple in creating their very own bespoke wedding, something that is unique and authentic to them. Here at Brolga, with our numerous garden rooms, pool area, meadows, and vistas, and the ability to bring in your own vendors, we believe that it's achievable here. The house itself accommodates ten, with easy access to Daylesford for the overspill of guests. We also offer a recovery day by the pool for those who want to drop by and discuss the events of the night before with the couple.
How would you describe the atmosphere and aesthetic of Brolga Hill Estate?
When couples come by for a tour, we often hear the words, "We thought we were going to have to travel to Italy for our wedding, but after seeing Brolga, we don't have to."
From the moment you enter Brolga, you relax. It is a celebration of a slower pace, of times gone by, where the outside world stops, and you get to enjoy the people you are here with. Whether it's a wander through the gardens or a group celebratory drink and dance, everything here is created to enhance the mood. It seems to transport you somewhere magical, somewhere far off.
Where are you located, and what accommodations are available for guests?
Brolga is 15 minutes west of Daylesford, Victoria, in the Central Highlands. The house caters for ten intimate guests, and the event facilities can cater for up to 200 people.
What makes Brolga Hill Estate different, especially in how you host and support couples on their wedding day?
We are a family-oriented business and recognise that it's an important day for the extended family and friends as well as the couple. We are the creators of the estate, and we are on-site the entire time to ensure everyone feels special. Our aim is to make the couple feel as though it is as much their ancestral family home for the weekend.
What have been some memorable or meaningful weddings or moments at the estate?
Everyone uses the gardens differently, and seeing their creative diversity, flair and vision come to life is always surprising. We get to experience the premises used in ways we never imagined, from the pool filled with water lilies to a cylindrical dais at the end of the pencil pine avenue, from a lighting show in the garden based on A Midsummer Night's Dream to a re-enactment of Bridgerton. It all continues to inspire us.
What’s next for Brolga Hill Estate in terms of creative direction, new offerings, or growth?
We are always improving the gardens and event spaces at Brolga, especially the creation of new ceremony spaces to cater for larger groups, to extend the choice and ability for a more bespoke experience. We are also creating packages, for example, a post-wedding package stay for the couple to wind down, relive the highlights, and take a long spa and massage in the nearby Hepburn Springs. An opportunity to keep the good times rolling.
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