Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation’s magnificent heritage property, Campbell House, has claimed bronze at the Victorian Tourism Awards.
Proprietors Donna Greenway and Rod Printz were thrilled to accept the award in the Self-Contained Property category at the November 21 event at Palladium at Crown.
The pair founded Castlemaine Boutique Accommodation in 2012 and are the caretakers of several of Castlemaine’s most iconic properties.
Donna said they purchased Campbell House just before the pandemic.
“We did a quick renovation to get the property up and running, but unfortunately covid hit and we were forced to cancel all our bookings,” she said.
Determined to keep their dedicated team busy in the interim, they decided to tackle a larger makeover on the sprawling three-level Campbell Street property.
The final result saw the home become the largest and grandest property among their Castlemaine offerings.
This stunning mansion boasts nine bedrooms, three bathrooms and can sleep up to 18 guests. It is an ideal spot for family gatherings, a getaway with friends, or a corporate retreat.
The home was built by Andrew Campbell, whom the street is named after.
He was a Scottish settler and pioneer whose successful timber and ironmongery business was famous throughout the entire region.
Campbell House was built as a testament to love. Mr Campbell was hopelessly in love with the granddaughter of famed poet, Robert Burns, and built this beautiful mansion for her.
Sadly their happy ending was not meant to be as Ms Burns died only two years after arriving in Castlemaine and Mr Campbell was left to spend the rest of his days in this grand home alone.
The home had fallen into major disrepair when Donna and Rod took ownership.
“It was all boarded up. The renovation was a lot of hard work and saw us uncover a lot of issues, but also some real gems such as the original balustrade on the staircase, which had been covered over, and wood panel detailing around the entryway,” Donna said.
“The balcony on the top level had also been closed in. We opened that space back up and the views across Castlemaine are just incredible.
“Our aim was to bring it back to its goldfields glory days and I think we have certainly achieved that.
“The property is very popular with families, bridal parties, corporate groups and functions. Visitors can explore the Castlemaine region, which is right on their doorstep, or make use of the kitchen facilities and simply enjoy the property and spend quality time together.”
The pair said their success would not have been possible without the backing of their wonderful team.
“They are incredible. Campbell House alone takes seven hours to clean and prep after each stay!”
“We have a range of accommodation to suit all occasions and budgets, from one-bedroom options to larger offerings.
“We enjoy discovering the story behind each property and sharing that with our guests to provide them with a unique, bespoke experience of our region,” Donna said.
