In 1867 Henry Sebire, his wife Martha and their four children settled in Wandin Yallock.
The Sebires had to fell trees and clear their land to build their home. Henry built their first home using the timber he’d just felled, and the hamlet of Wandin was ‘put on the map’.
Fortunately for him, Henry was a former stonemason, so he and local labourers made bricks by hand, using clay quarried from the property’s dam, and Mont De Lancey became the first brick house to be built in the district.
Four generations of Sebires lived and flourished at Mont De Lancey for over 100 years, and it is rich in the Sebire family history and the history of the local area, and today it is ready for you to explore.
Take a tour and discover what daily life was like back in the pioneering days. Many of our volunteer tour guides are descendants of the original family, so they have great tales to tell.
Explore historical artefacts and gain an insight into how the locals lived through photos and memorabilia in our Museum.
Our onsite café offers freshly prepared sweet and savoury treats for morning tea, brunch, lunch, and afternoon tea; perfect to enjoy whilst exploring the property.
You might even get to see our working blacksmiths in their purpose-built forge, shaping metal into tools and art with heat and hammer, or The Eastern Woodturners using age old traditions to turn timber into art and functional pieces, and check out vintage engines and machinery in the Yarra Valley Vintage Machinery Preservation Society shed.
Mont De Lancey holds numerous events throughout the year; annual events such as the Draught Horse Festival weekend in February, the Spring Festival incorporating Art on the Hill sculpture exhibition in September, and the Blacksmith’s Festival weekend in October provide something of interest to a broad range of visitors. The Ray Oliver Gallery hosts numerous exhibitions throughout the year including photography, arts and quilting and crafting. More recent events for Christmas, Easter and our cinema in the Paddock are fast becoming popular additions to our Events calendar.
Mont De Lancey was gifted to the people of Victoria to become a museum and local community project just over 30 years ago. Why not take a drive to Wandin North in the beautiful Yarra Valley, and keep an eye on our website montdelancey.org.au for all upcoming events.
