Buda Historic Home and Garden
Delhi Villa
Buda Historic Home & Garden is located in Victoria
Buda Historic Home & Garden
Location in Victoria
TypeVilla, associated built facilities and gardens
Location42–48 Hunter Street Castlemaine, Victoria
Nearest cityBendigo
Coordinates37°03′30″S 144°13′25″E / 37.05830°S 144.22373°E / -37.05830; 144.22373
Area1.2 Ha
Built1857-1861
Built forReverend James Smith and family
Restored1890
Restored byErnest Leviny
Architectural style(s)Italianate
Visitors5942 (in 2019–20 excluding COVID restricted period)[1]
Governing bodyBuda Historic Home and Garden Incorporated
OwnerTrustees of the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historic Museum (CAGHM)[2]
Websitehttps://budacastlemaine.org
Official nameBuda Historic Home and Garden
TypeRegistered Place
Designated21 March 1978
Reference no.H0134

Buda is a heritage-listed[3] historic house and garden located in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia. It was added to the Victorian Heritage Database on 15 October 1970,[4] when it was purchased by the Trustees of the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historic Museum (CAGHM)[2] which oversees its management.

Since 1981 the house (museum) and garden are open to the public Monday to Sunday 12pm to 4pm, except Good Friday and Christmas Day.[5]

House

Women in summer dress in front of Italianate villa, Buda, in Castlemaine, 1920s

Delhi Villa

Built by a retired Baptist Missionary, Reverend James Smith, in 1861 and originally named Delhi Villa, the original plan was a six-roomed brick house with an encircling verandah, based on the Indian Bungalow he considered the most suitable style of housing for the Australian climate. However, within two years, Smith decided to return with his family to his missionary work in India and the house was put up for auction.

Ernest Leviny purchase

The property was purchased in 1863 by businessman and jeweller Ernest Leviny to serve as the marital home for Leviny and his second wife, Bertha Hudson, whom he married the following year.[6] They raised their family of ten children in the house. Leviny oversaw many changes and alterations to the house and grounds, particularly between the years 1890 – 1900. It was around this time that the house was renamed Buda after the capital of Hungary, Budapest.[7]

Garden

Leviny sisters in the garden of Buda villa in Castlemaine, view to the west, c.1910

The home is elevated above the town with extensive views to the south and south-west, and occupies a site of 1.2 hectares in original established gardens.[8] Botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller was a guest of the house while designing Castlemaine Botanical Gardens,[9] and is considered to have influenced the garden design,[10] and to have presented to the family some of its now largest trees.[11] Among the most significant large nineteenth century, early twentieth century gardens surviving in Victoria, it is significant for the compartmentalised nature of the layout, relative intactness,[12] and for the survival of two notable garden buildings, the aviary and the former tennis pavilion.[10]

In 1984, after 3 years of being open to the public, the grounds and plantings were restored with funding from the Victorian government Gardens and Environment Committee to mark the state's 150th anniversary.[13] The work was further financed, undertaken and continued by a Friends of Buda association[14] founded by local historian Peter Cuffley[15] who after making a survey, recruited the services of Castlmaine horticulturalists Clive and Margaret Winmill.[9][16] The house and garden were beneficiaries of further state funding announced in May 1985,[17] and gardeners were employed in the mid-1980s under the Commonwealth Employment Program.[18]

In 2011 a large cypress hedge, a major feature of the garden facing the facade,[19] proved moribund and was removed using a grant from the Australian Garden History Society, thus restoring the original vista enjoyed from the house. It was replaced with twelve new trees.[20]

Leviny family

The house is full of Ernest's and the daughters' artworks and artefacts including jewellery and enamelwork, embellished fabrics, woodwork and photography; one of the daughters even decorated the cornice in one of the bedrooms.

Ernest Leviny

Ernest Leviny[21] was born at Georgenberg, Hungary, in 1818 and trained as a silversmith and jeweller in Budapest. Arriving at Port Phillip, Melbourne, early in 1853, he went directly to the rich alluvial goldfields of Forest Creek, and the bustling new township of Castlemaine. There, he established a successful watchmaking and jewellery business in the Market Square. By 1863, he was able to retire from business and purchase Delhi Villa. In 1864, he married Bertha Hudson,[22] bringing her to Castlemaine to settle at Delhi Villa. Leviny was a clock maker,[23] goldsmith and silversmith.

Children

The Leviny family making craftwork in the sitting room of Buda villa in Castlemaine

Ernest and Bertha had ten children between 1865 and 1883: four sons: Louis, Alfred, Ernest and Francis, and six daughters: Mary, Ilma, Beatrice (Kate), Gertrude, Bertha (Dorothy) and Hilda. Of their four sons, two died under the age of five years.[24] The Leviny daughters were encouraged to pursue their artistic interests at a time when women were being given more opportunities to study art and take up careers. They worked across a range of media including painting, woodcarving, metalwork, photography, and needlework in which they had their mother's example in the production of clothing by hand.[25]

Each of the daughters was creative in some form of art or craft.[26]

  • Mary, the eldest, had much to do in helping to run the household, and was a major contributor to making everyone's clothes, embroidering, smocking and decorating.[27]
  • Hilda specialised in embroidery. Three of her works were shown in the First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work 1907,[28] including a three-panelled draught screen with hand embroidered and appliquéd panels which is on display at Buda.[29]
  • Gertrude specialised in woodcarving[30]
  • Kate specialised in photography[31]
  • Dorothy won awards for her fine art and photography and specialised in metal and enamel work[32]

Family legacy

From 1905, after Ernest's death, a British Arts and Crafts style was embraced by his daughters and practiced in their furnishing and decoration of the house interior; its fittings and colour schemes, handcrafted items, metalwork light fittings and embroidered soft furnishings, mostly made by the Leviny women.[33]

Due to the foresight of last surviving sister, Hilda, Buda was preserved as a house and garden museum when she sold the property to the Trustees of the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historic Museum in 1970. Her mother Bertha had provided temporary accommodation in a shop she owned when the gallery was being established in 1913,[6] and sisters Mary and Kate were amongst its founders, and contributed to the development of the gallery's collection of prints in the late 1920s. Kate was a keen art collector and amongst her purchases still retained at Buda are works by Margaret Preston, Mildred Lovett, Norbertine Bresslern Roth and other women printmakers of the era.[34][31]

Buda today

The Leviny family inhabited the house continuously for 118 years from 1863 to 1981.[4] When the last surviving daughter, Hilda, died at the age of 98 years, the house and garden were opened to the public from Boxing Day that year.[35] It remains a popular tourist destination[36] and is a major venue during the bi-annual Castlemaine State Festivals.

Since opening to the public, Buda has been managed by a huge team of volunteers from the local community in many varied roles ranging from garden and maintenance, to archivists, to reception and tour guides.[37]

The house reflects Leviny's vision of a ‘gentleman's villa’, a house befitting a successful Victorian businessman with its Italianate façade and surrounding garden. Buda retains its “parsley” green trims and shutters, characteristic of the country homes of Ernest Leviny's European origins.[6]

To augment gate takings, fees for functions and events, shop and nursery sales, funding from local and other levels of government for the maintenance of the property since its opening has fluctuated, or has been insufficient.[18] In 2018, Buda Historic House and Garden appealed to Mount Alexander Shire for $60,000 for conservation management plans and funding for a concept plan for the development of a new building to house a museum and archives office, and requested an increase from $7000 to $20,000 in recurrent annual funding, “to ensure BUDA can maintain its current level of community engagement”, but was refused.[38] Recently, Buda received two Victorian state government Living Heritage Grants;[39] in 2018–2019 for irrigation, trees, and paths;[40] and 2019–2020 for repairs to the building[41]

Displays and exhibitions

Curators of Buda collections were Jean Wyldebore in the 1970s and 80s[9] and Lauretta Zilles,[42] (inaugural curator at Castlemaine's Gallery)[24] until 2022, and Meredith Blake (house curator) and Carol Henderson (garden) since.

  • 1984: Tableau of 18th Century Dress, 14th–15th April, part of Heritage Week '84 organised by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria)[43]
  • 1987: Sketches and paintings by Ernest Leviny and his daughters[44]
  • 2005: Contemporary Australian Silver & Metalwork Award[42]
  • 2018, to 11 July: Buda biennial Textiles Exhibition[45]

References

  1. ↑ "Buda Historic Home and Garden Incorporated Annual Report 2019-20" (PDF). Buda Castlemaine. 26 October 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Buda Castlemaine | Organisation". Buda Castlemaine. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  3. ↑ "Victorian Heritage Register – Buda". vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au. 13 May 1999. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  4. 1 2 Avery, Steven (11 October 2018). "Victorian Heritage Database Report : BUDA". Heritage Council Victoria. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Buda Castlemaine | Visit Us". Buda Castlemaine. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum (1988). Buda: historic home and garden of the Leviny family. Castlemaine: Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum. OCLC 220717467.
  7. ↑ Flaus, Johyn; Zilles, Lauretta; Lorimer, Neil; Buda Historic Homes and garden (Castlemaine, Vic.), Media Magnet (2013), Ernest Leviny, 1818–1905: colonial silversmith and jeweller., OCLC 865467138, retrieved 7 October 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ Brewer, Nancy (31 March 1987). "Some 'late bloomers' before autumn's tints". The Age. p. 22.
  9. 1 2 3 Grover, Harry (21 December 1984). "The makings of one of our great country gardens". The Age. p. 31.
  10. 1 2 Patrick, John (1989). Australian garden designs. Ringwood, Vic.: Viking O'Neil. ISBN 978-0-670-90224-8. OCLC 27558359.
  11. ↑ Patrick, John (23 April 1985). "Horticulture is a crucial link". The Age. pp. 29–30.
  12. ↑ Zilles, L., & James, J. (2007). Buda, not just an historic garden? Australian Garden History, 18(4), 12–13
  13. ↑ Garnett, T. R. (16 November 1984). "What is happening in the Garden State". The Age. p. 53.
  14. ↑ "Buda Castlemaine | Friends of Buda". Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  15. ↑ Cuffley, Peter (1991). Traditional gardens in Australia : creating your own period garden. Peter Cuffley. Balwyn, Vic.: Five Mile Press. ISBN 0-86788-343-X. OCLC 27592569.
  16. ↑ Patrick, John (30 September 1986). "Exploring gardens in your own back yard". The Age. p. 58.
  17. ↑ "Museums to get state aid". The Age. 14 May 1985. p. 9.
  18. 1 2 Beeby, Rosslyn (28 October 1986). "Buda is a historical homestead and garden at Castlemaine that is wasting away for want of restoration funds. ROSSLYN BEEBY reports on plans to make Buda one of our major tourist attractions". The Age. p. 27.
  19. ↑ Thomson, D. (2012). The great hedge at Buda. Australian Garden History, 24(1), 18–20.
  20. ↑ "New hedge for Castlemaine Buda garden". Advocate. Hepburn, Australia. 25 September 2012.
  21. ↑ "Ernest Leviny :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online". www.daao.org.au. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  22. ↑ "Bertha Leviny :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online". www.daao.org.au. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  23. ↑ "A MAHOGANY DIAL CLOCK, ENGLISH, RETAILED BY E. LEVINY, CASTLEMAINE AND LONDON, CIRCA 1880". sothebys. May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  24. 1 2 Zilles, Lauretta (1991). Maladies, Medicos & Miracle Cures: A Guide to the History of Medicine in Castlemaine and District from 1851-c1950. Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Museum. OCLC 221334617.
  25. ↑ Cramer, Lorinda (September 2017). "Making 'everything they want but boots': Clothing Children in Victoria, Australia, 1840–1870". Costume. 51 (2): 190–209. doi:10.3366/cost.2017.0024. ISSN 0590-8876.
  26. ↑ Clark, Mary Ryllis (19 February 1994). "The tale of six sisters". The Age. p. 3.
  27. ↑ "Mary Leviny :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online". www.daao.org.au. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  28. ↑ Australian Exhibition of Women's Work (1907). "First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work, 1907". National Library of Australia. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 7 October 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  29. ↑ "Hilda Leviny :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online". www.daao.org.au. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  30. ↑ "Gertrude Leviny :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online". www.daao.org.au. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  31. 1 2 "Kate Leviny :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online". www.daao.org.au. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  32. ↑ "Dorothy Leviny :: biography at :: at Design and Art Australia Online". www.daao.org.au. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  33. ↑ "Buda Castlemaine | Historic Home & Garden". Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  34. ↑ Broad, E (2000), White2 : the development of modernism in Australia (1850–1930) and the significant contribution made by women through domestic decoration and design, retrieved 4 March 2022
  35. ↑ Carrick, Michael (24 December 1981). "Weekender". The Age. p. 34.
  36. ↑ McCulloch, Susan (5 November 1983). "A weekend ride into the past". The Age. p. 157.
  37. ↑ "Buda Castlemaine | Volunteering". Buda Castlemaine. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  38. ↑ A council response to the request read: “No council funding is recommended for BUDA conservation management plan development. Council previously provided funding for the master plan development, and further discussions are required to understand the request for concept planning support.” Vallely, William (27 June 2018). "The Castlemaine Art Museum and the Buda Historic House and Garden made submissions to the Mount Alexander Shire Council's draft budget for additional funding". Bendigo Advertiser.
  39. ↑ "Funded grant projects". Heritage. 9 September 2021.
  40. ↑ State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (2018). "Living Heritage Grants Program Successful Projects Round 3 2018–19" (PDF). Heritage Victoria. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  41. ↑ State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (2020). "Living Heritage Grants Program Implemented Projects Round 4 2019 – 20" (PDF). Heritage Victoria. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. 1 2 Contemporary Australian Silver and Metalwork Awards : Buda 2005 : 8th Biennial Leviny Commemorative Exhibition : April 02-17. Contributors: Robert Reason, Lauretta Zilles. Castlemaine, Vic.: Buda Historic Home and Garden. 2005. ISBN 0-9757508-0-1. OCLC 62548392.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  43. ↑ Advertising (13 April 1984). "A Week of Discovery". The Age. p. 2.
  44. ↑ "Listing". The Age. 16 April 1987. p. 65.
  45. ↑ "Buda Textiles exhibition opens in Castlemaine." Consumer Goods Monitor Worldwide [Amman, Jordan], 3 Aug. 2018. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A551550120/ITOF?u=wikipedia&sid=ebsco&xid=e58571b5. Accessed 8 Oct. 2021.
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