Heronswood in Dromana, Shire of Mornington Peninsula, Australia | Building

Welcome to Heronswood, Dromana, Austalia. The house and gardens are open to the public.

Heronswood, La Trobe Parade, Dromana, was built as a retreat by William Edward Hearn, academic and politician, to designs probably by Edward La Trobe Bateman. The main house of 1871 is asymmetrically composed and constructed in bluestone with limestone dressings and bell cast slate roofs. The single storey north-east wing, with varied windows and roof shapes, verandahs and loggia, contrasts with the two storey south-west wings.

Heronswood, La Trobe Parade, Dromana, is a dwelling of national architectural importance, being an innovative and highly creative design and, with Barragunda, Cape Schanck, perhaps stylistically unique in Australia. The cottage is a rare surviving example of drop slab construction and the use of slabs laid diagonally is unique in Victoria. Stylistically this first building is a very rare example of the Picturesque cottage orne and has no relationship to contemporary Australian practice.