Viewbank

Explore a new online interactive exhibit that reveals the forgotten history of Viewbank homestead and the Martin family.....

Discover the histories and stories of a variety of artefacts unearthed at Viewbank and learn how these artefacts have been treated and conserved in the lab.

Viewbank Homestead was constructed around 1840, on part of a large pastoral holding, near the junction of the Yarra and Plenty rivers in Heidelberg. Between 1996 and 1999, Heritage Victoria conducted three seasons of excavation at the site. The investigations have shown that Viewbank was one of the first grand homesteads built on the outskirts of Melbourne, in the period before the Goldrush.

The excavation revealed the stone foundations of the house and some remains of hand-made brick walls, fireplaces and other features. It is clear that Viewbank was built in two phases. Originally it was just a four roomed house, but it was renovated and expanded in the 1850s and 1860s after it was acquired by wealthy squatter Dr Robert Martin.

Buttons

A range of artefacts were found during the excavation including childrens’ toys, coins, gaming tokens, thimbles and pins. Some objects reflect the affluence of the Martin family – a network of servants’ bells was found running from the ancillary quarters at the rear of the house to the front dining and drawing rooms. Fragments of marble fireplaces and pieces of richly decorated plaster cornice were also found by the archaeologists.

Viewbank was destroyed by a professional demolition team in the early 1920s, long after the Martin family moved away from the area. By then, the house had fallen into disrepair and locals believed that it was haunted. For most of the 20th century, cattle grazed over the ruins of Viewbank and knowledge of the former grand homestead slipped from public knowledge until the archaeologists returned to the site to unlock its secrets.

Viewbank is on the Victorian Heritage Register.

The Viewbank excavation was supervised by archaeologists from Heritage Victoria, with help from archaeologists from Melbourne, La Trobe and Flinders Universities, and more than 140 archaeology students and members of the interested public.