Goldfields Getaway
16 April, 2021
All roads lead to Buda
All roads (and the railway line) pass through Castlemaine in Central Victoria, making Buda Historic Home and Garden the perfect stop-over for visitors making their way to and from Bendigo, Daylesford or Maryborough. Buda was the home of the talented...
All roads (and the railway line) pass through Castlemaine in Central Victoria, making Buda Historic Home and Garden the perfect stop-over for visitors making their way to and from Bendigo, Daylesford or Maryborough.
Buda was the home of the talented Leviny family from the Goldrush until 1981. Ernest Leviny, a Hungarian who came to Castlemaine as a noted colonial silversmith, jeweler and businessman, purchased Buda in preparation for his marriage to his second wife, Bertha Hudson of Launceston and they raised ten children in their home.
Open to the public as an accredited house museum of national significance, Buda provides a unique insight into the times in which the Leviny family lived, their lifestyle and interests over a 118 year period. Evident throughout the house In particular is the passion of the five unmarried daughters for the Arts and Crafts Movement, which strongly influenced art and design in Australia around the turn of the nineteenth century.
Buda is a magical step back in time. Original furnishings adorn the house spanning two generations of occupancy. The stories of this remarkable family are preserved through their letters, diaries, photograph albums and personal belongings. In addition to their own eclectic art and craft work, the walls of Buda include works by notable Australian women artists such as Margaret Preston, Eveline Syme and Ursula Ridley Walker.
Amidst 1.2 hectares of delightful heritage garden there is a hardy goldfields garden plant nursery to browse through and ample room for a picnic and a stroll. You can even visit the website and book a gourmet picnic hamper to be waiting for you on arrival. All gourmet hampers feature fresh seasonal produce (low food miles) and are self contained, with picnic rug, thermosand fine china. There are vegetarian options for each basket and dietary requirements can be catered for upon request. They also feature special Buda recipes direct from the diaries of the Leviny women.
Visitors are welcome at Buda seven days a week from 12 – 4pm and group tours are available at any time with prior booking. Buda’s gift shop provides a lovely range of Buda merchandise and handcrafted items for sale. There are also special events during the year such as Twilight Jazz on May 1, Heritage Festival special themed tours during April and May and the Traditional Arts Fair in November.
Visit budacastlemaine.org for more information.
