“North Park” is a magnificent 42 room Queen Anne style mansion built on what is the most elevated section in the Borough of Essendon along Woodland Street. Still in remarkably original condition both inside and out, with its gardens well maintained, “North Park” is one of Melbourne’s grandest mansions and is representative of “Marvellous Melbourne”.

Built between 1888 and 1889 for Melbourne brewing magnate Alexander McCracken (1856 – 1915) and his family, the mansion was designed by architects Oakden, Addison and Kemp. The contract was let to builder D. Sinclair for ?10,750. The foundations of the house are of bluestone and above that, the walls are faced with picked red Northcote bricks, relieved by dressing and bands. The residence is an excellent example of Federation Queen Anne style, as seen by the asymmetry in its design, terracotta ridge cresting, prominent gables and half-timbering to gables, and the tall chimneys. The entrance is central and reached by a wide flight of Malmsbury steps. The roof treatment is elaborate, with dormer windows, a steep central pavilion, cresting, and a widow’s walk. The roof of “North Park” still has its original imported Marseilles terracotta roof tiles made by the French company, Guichard Carvin de Cie, St Andrew. Apparently these unique tiles feature the firm's signature bee imprint on each one. Alterations and extensions were undertaken in 1906, including the complete redecoration of the interior to the design of Billing, Son and Peck. One magnificent edition to the house as part of the 1906 extension was a ballroom. It has a high domed, metal Arts and Crafts ceiling, Art Nouveau stained glass windows and French doors leading out into the garden to the estate’s ornamental fish pond, which is still as it was in 1900 when it was created. The ballroom was built by Alexander McCracken for the debut into society of his favourite daughter.

The estate grounds retain much of its original form, with a sweeping drive from the front gates on Woodland Street and the front of the house overlooking three curved terraces which are symmetrical about a central axis with the main towered entrance. The planting is a fine example of the Gardenesque style developed by John Claudius Loudon (1783 – 1843) in the early Nineteenth Century to display plants for their individual beauty. The grounds contain many mature trees which were planted when “North Park” was first constructed including; a pair of Himalayan Cedars, cypress trees, palm trees (almost as tall as the house itself) and a huge Moreton Bay Fig. All are surrounded by beds full of perennials which border a number of terraced lawns.

Alexander McCracken died at “North Park” in 1915. The mansion was sold to Harvey Patterson (1848 -1931), an executive of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, in the early 1920s. He and his wife lived there for a short while after his retirement. “North Park” was then purchased by the Society for Saint Columban in December 1923. It is them we have to thank for the house remaining in such excellent condition. Most of the rooms are still in-tact with original interior decoration and furniture.

When I visited and asked permission to photograph “North Park”, I was amazed by the completeness of the interior. It was almost like stepping back in time. The hallway still has its heavy Arts and Crafts wallpaper, tiled floor and original Victorian hall furniture. It is illuminated by a group of stained glass windows above the stairway is the glory of the house. Their theme is the golden age of ancient Greece. A smaller set of windows shows the golden age of ancient Ireland. I would dearly love to have photographed them, but that was not something the Father would have permitted.

“North Park” is a magnificent 42 room Queen Anne style mansion built on what is the most elevated section in the Borough of Essendon along Woodland Street. Still in remarkably original condition both inside and out, with its gardens well maintained, “North Park” is one of Melbourne’s grandest mansions and is representative of “Marvellous Melbourne”.

Built between 1888 and 1889 for Melbourne brewing magnate Alexander McCracken (1856 – 1915) and his family, the mansion was designed by architects Oakden, Addison and Kemp. The contract was let to builder D. Sinclair for ?10,750. The foundations of the house are of bluestone and above that, the walls are faced with picked red Northcote bricks, relieved by dressing and bands. The residence is an excellent example of Federation Queen Anne style, as seen by the asymmetry in its design, terracotta ridge cresting, prominent gables and half-timbering to gables, and the tall chimneys. Alterations and extensions were undertaken in 1906, including the complete redecoration of the interior to the design of Billing, Son and Peck. One magnificent edition to the house as part of the 1906 extension was a ballroom. It has a high domed, metal Arts and Crafts ceiling, Art Nouveau stained glass windows and French doors leading out into the garden to the estate’s ornamental fish pond, which is still as it was in 1900 when it was created. The ballroom was built by Alexander McCracken for the debut into society of his favourite daughter.

The estate grounds retain much of its original form, with a sweeping drive from the front gates on Woodland Street and the front of the house overlooking three curved terraces which are symmetrical about a central axis with the main towered entrance. The planting is a fine example of the Gardenesque style developed by John Claudius Loudon (1783 – 1843) in the early Nineteenth Century to display plants for their individual beauty. The grounds contain many mature trees which were planted when “North Park” was first constructed including; a pair of Himalayan Cedars, cypress trees, palm trees (almost as tall as the house itself) and a huge Moreton Bay Fig. All are surrounded by beds full of perennials which border a number of terraced lawns.

Alexander McCracken died at “North Park” in 1915. The mansion was sold to Harvey Patterson (1848 -1931), an executive of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, in the early 1920s. He and his wife lived there for a short while after his retirement. “North Park” was then purchased by the Society for Saint Columban in December 1923. It is them we have to thank for the house remaining in such excellent condition. Most of the rooms are still in-tact with original interior decoration and furniture.

When I visited and asked permission to photograph “North Park”, I was amazed by the completeness of the interior. It was almost like stepping back in time. The hallway still has its heavy Arts and Crafts wallpaper, tiled floor and original Victorian hall furniture. It is illuminated by a group of stained glass windows above the stairway is the glory of the house. Their theme is the golden age of ancient Greece. A smaller set of windows shows the golden age of ancient Ireland. I would dearly love to have photographed them, but that was not something the Father would have permitted.