Historic garden estate ready for next chapter

Owned by George and Pat Hetrel since 1996, the 6.12ha estate has been a cherished family home, event space, and meticulously maintained historic garden. The home is set to go to auction on March 29 with a price guide of $3.3 million to $3.6 million.

Now, after decades of restoration, care and cherished memories, the couple are ready to pass the baton to the next custodians of Como Gardens, offering a rare opportunity to own a piece of Victoria’s history.

Pat said the couple had always been drawn to the area and were captivated by the property’s potential.

“We were retiring from a business and had always liked the area due to living around the area for generations,” Pat said.

“We heard the nursery was coming to market and I had brought rare plants from there before even meeting some of their high-end clientele like Dame Edna.

“Upon viewing the property we immediately saw the vision of putting a stunning lake and ponds in to encourage local wildlife to reside which sold us on the home.”

Beyond its breathtaking gardens, Pat said the property became a community hub. The estate features a 650m long miniature railway and was home to a vintage car museum and sprawling gardens that were open to the public for two decades through biannual open days.

“We tried to utilise every aspect of the property for people to enjoy,” she said.

“My husband was starting to build an old automobile collection that the barn suited perfectly to turn into a museum allowing us to create a social hub to host gatherings of all types, from weddings, parties, car meets and more.

“We would also open the home twice a year hosting tours to raise funds for the CFA, St. John’s Ambulance and the Salvation Army.”

Set on historic land once explored by Baron Ferdinand Van Mueller, Como Gardens is steeped in rich heritage. The estate’s origins date back to the 19th century when William Chandler established the renowned Como Gardens Nursery, famed for its rare and exotic plants.

Designed for both beauty and function, the home features expansive windows framing stunning views of the landscaped gardens.

“When designing the home we ensured every room had windows that would allow you to look into the beautiful views of an aspect of the gardens which I’ve always loved,” Pat said.

“I also enjoyed that we created aspects anyone of all ages could enjoy including the fairy dell and teddy bears picnic in the gardens for the kids.”