Langley Hall – Bendigo
A Goldfields landmark since 1904
Langley Hall is the 1904 Australian Federation-era mansion on the 2.5-acre Langley Estate in Bendigo – a 90-minute drive from Melbourne Airport along the Calder Freeway in Victoria’s spectacular and historic Goldfields region.
The iconic and much-loved mansion, with a fascinating and varied history, was designed by the ‘premier architect of the Victorian goldfields’ and built in 1904 as the ‘Bishop’s Palace’ for Henry Langley, the first Anglican Bishop of Bendigo, after whom it was later named in 1926. It is a surviving masterpiece of the uniquely Australian ‘Federation’ architectural style: a style developed from the 1890s as the ‘new architecture for a new nation’ anticipated the Federation of Australia in 1901.
The mansion boasts magnificent stained glass windows featuring Australian flora and fauna, expansive verandahs with decorative timber fretwork, gargoyled gables, ornate pressed tin ceilings and exquisitely carved mantelpieces. All those features lend grandeur and elegance to the opulent furnishings, fine antiques and abundance of original artwork set within generously proportioned living, dining and resting spaces; the internal floor space alone covers over a quarter of an acre.
Restored in 2010, with 23 specialist trades working tirelessly for six months, Langley Hall is a picture-perfect example of an Australian stately home in Australia’s favourite Federation-era architectural style. It remains photogenically intact on its grand estate in beautiful gardens complete with fountains, sun-drenched courtyards and even a giant chess set!
Both Langley Hall and the surrounding Langley Estate exude the well-known ‘Langley Magic’ – that enchanting atmosphere only relaxing spaces within superbly designed surroundings can give.
The Estate is also home to Langley Manor: a Tudor-revival two-storey Manor House built in 1936 (the Foundation Stone was laid by the Premier of Victoria) and the 1873 Lauriston Chapel – welcoming, charming and character-filled. The Chapel was originally built as All Saints’ Church, Lauriston (near Kyneton) in 1873 and the historic ‘Carpenter Gothic’ timber building was deconsecrated and moved to Langley to be used as a kindergarten in 1932.
Although it was stated in the 1920s ‘without fear of contradiction, that no more salubrious weather conditions prevail in any other spot under the Southern Cross’ than in Bendigo, please note that all buildings on the Langley Estate - over 50 rooms across Langley Hall, Langley Manor and the Lauriston Chapel - are heated and air-conditioned to ensure your personal comfort all year round!
Whether you’re a guest in our Accommodation at Langley Hall, in the audience enjoying a Concert, or a happy couple on your Wedding Day, come and experience the grand ‘Langley magic’ for yourself.
