The Middleton Field homestead

A young local family have purchased the homestead at Middleton Field ‘Middleton House’, with plans to simultaneously preserve its history and give it a more sustainable future.

After falling in love with the idea of a country life, Jess and Dave made the move back to Daylesford, chasing the wonderful mix of country, the cosmopolitan and progressive aspects of a city, historic architecture, nature, and diversity that Daylesford offers.

The strong community is the perfect place for them to run their businesses – the Daylesford Brewing Company and Dunbarlo Home.

Now that their family has grown, the couple have shifted their focus to a larger home: the original sandstone building in Middleton Field.

The Middleton Field project team caught up with Jess to find out more about their plans to renovate Middleton House through considered design, a sympathetic view of its history and a sustainable future.

Illustration of Middleton House.

What attracted you to the Middleton Field Homestead?

The Homestead is significant to the area as one of very few sandstone homes within the Daylesford township itself. Its construction dates back to the 1870’s I believe, and we love this. We had been looking for a while for something bigger - always at old properties (always those that need work….!) See images below!

From what we know so far, it was built by John Howe on a very large landholding adjacent to Wombat Park where I once lived as child. Middleton Field as it’s known now was originally known as “Middleton Park” with its park like farm also.

Over the years the trees have been cleared, it has been the home to the Agricultural Society, and land sold off to the local schools and surrounding homes. A strong green approach feels right to be re-established on this land with the concept of a neighbourhood resting on farmland.

Sitting high on the rise of the former farm, we feel very lucky – our home has magnificent views of Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens, the Wombat Park farmland, Musk and beyond, and potentially Mount Franklin also.

What are your current renovation plans?

This home is a major live-in project for us, and not one to be taken lightly – we know it needs a lot of work, planning and consideration and will be a long process but to be able to preserve and respect the sandstone beauty, and bring it into the future with a sustainable approach and well considered design, we can create a totally unique home for us – and be surrounded by a lush, community environment – but with privacy. 

It is very important to both of us to respect history and preserve this – we did this with one of the oldest miner’s cottages on the lake here, and we also have one of the oldest pubs in Daylesford as the future site for our brewery and bigger venue on the main street also. The pub is in a bad way after many years of neglect and its construction does not lend itself to today’s building standards, but we will bring her back to life as best as we can over time.

Want to know more? Read the full interview here.