Nestled quietly amidst the western suburbs lies Overnewton Castle, a historic gem in Keilor celebrating its remarkable 175th anniversary. Hannah Hammoud discovers more about the castle’s rich past and ongoing journey as she chats with Emma Stott who grew up within its storied walls and now manages the castle.
Originally owned by William James Taylor, a visionary who immigrated from Glasgow, Scotland, Overnewton Castle has stood as a testament to his legacy.
Taylor’s masterpiece was originially commissioned a single-storey homestead on 13,000 acres of land in 1849 before it was transformed into a Scottish Baronial Castle in 1859 after Taylor returned from a trip abroad.
Taylor came to Australia in 1840 – five years after Melbourne’s founding in 1835 – from Scotland at the young age of 22. It took him and his family six months to arrive on Australian shores, bracing the elements on a tiny boat.
Taylor’s influence extends far beyond the castle’s walls, with landmarks like Taylors Lakes and Taylors Hill bearing his name, a nod to his pioneering efforts in irrigation and sheep farming.
Fast-forward to today as Emma Stott reflects on her family’s connection to Overnewton Castle, which spans nearly five decades.
“Overnewton Castle is 175 years old which is exciting,” she said.
“The original owner was William James Taylor. When he was here he had 13,000 acres in 1849 and so that’s how Taylors Lakes and Taylors Hill got their name, because he irrigated the water from Taylors Lakes to Overnewton Castle so he could water his gardens.
“All the ‘Taylors’ you see in the Brimbank area are all based on William Taylor. He was a very clever man… he would farm sheep and send the wool back to England and Scotland. When he got to Keilor, he moved here when he married his wife, then his family were here for 105 years. My family bought the house in 1975 – we’re just the third family to have ever owned Overnewton.”
Despite its grandeur, Overnewton remained a hidden treasure in the western suburbs until recent years. Emma describes it as a “hidden gem” known mainly to those seeking wedding venues or indulging in high tea amidst its lush surroundings.
Born shortly after her family’s acquisition of the property, Emma’s life intertwines with the castle’s history in a deeply personal way.
“In our 50 years of being here, when we got here the house was quite run down but my parents could see that it was beautiful but they knew it had a lot of work. There were 36 rooms in the house, as kids playing hide and seek was very fun especially if you were in trouble. Our parents, by the time they found us, they forgot why we were in trouble,” Emma said.
“We embraced sharing the life and legacy of William Taylor. I think the most important thing is to keep sharing history – the thing about history is if you don’t share it, it gets forgotten.
“We love sharing the history because it’s such an important time. William Taylor was known as the father of Keilor for all the things he implemented for Keilor whilst he was working as a councillor. It’s really easy to tell his story because it’s so positive.”
Emma’s parents, both doctors, dedicated themselves to restoring the castle to its former glory. The baton now sits in the careful hands of their daughter Emma, who said it is truly a labour of love to maintain and celebrate Overnewton’s heritage.
“We used to climb out windows and climb off the roof, we were quite naughty kids, five of us all up. Five kids growing up here with my Mum and Dad. Mum and Dad were both doctors. Mum liked Overnewton because she could still see patients while she had us kids close by,” Emma said.
“Being both doctors they had a bit of extra income to be able to put back into the restoration of the house. As beautiful as she is, the house, she’s just a money pit.
“We don’t profit here, every dollar we make we put back into restoration of the house, constantly maintaining 36 rooms of a 175 year old building. It’s definitely a labour of love.”
Emma and her family’s commitment extends beyond preservation, with historical tours, high teas, and Scottish events welcoming the community to share in Overnewton’s timeless charm.
“We get the support from our lovely locals to help keep our business alive. Our little legacy is just to keep sharing the story and keeping William Taylor happy. We love opening our doors for people to come and share in the beautiful history,” Emma said.
“We’re on four and a half acres of beautiful manicured greens with probably one of the oldest trees in Brimbank, a 175 year old oak tree, the heritage is beautiful. We just love opening up the castle.”
To discover more about Overnewton Castle visit: www.overnewtoncastle.com.au/
