Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden
Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden is a unique attraction located in Thomastown’s Westgarthtown Pioneer Precinct – a hidden gem amongst modern homes.
Originally owned by Christian and Sophia Ziebell, the farmhouse was built during the 1850s by the Ziebell family using local bluestone and typical German design. Surrounded by a barn, smoke house, bathhouse and beautifully maintained cottage garden the museum tells a fascinating story of the journey German and Wendish families made to Australia to establish dairy farms north of Melbourne.
Visitors are transported to a time when Thomastown was known as Westgarthtown, Edgars Creek ran through open pasture and immigration was by tall ship. The neighbouring Reserve, Lutheran Church and historic Cemetery create further interest for tourists and locals alike.
Programs and Exhibitions
Ziebell's Farmhouse Open House Melbourne Weekend
Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden was selected to take part in Open House Melbourne Weekend 2025.
Visitors took part in Stories from the Attic: An Exploration of Life in Melbourne’s Germantown, a special program that uncovered stories of German and Wendish settlers who once called Thomastown (then Germantown) home.
Guided tours occurred with Germantown descendants to explore one of Melbourne’s oldest surviving bluestone homes built in 1850, viewing the cottage garden, walking through the Westgarthtown precinct and hearing a special German storytime on Sunday morning.
Turning back to Edgars Creek
Presented by Ziebells Farmhouse and Museum
In 2021, an exhibition and brochure was developed entitled Turning Back to Edgars Creek. It looked at peoples' changing cultural relationship with the creek in what is now called Thomastown and Lalor. The brochure was delivered to 16,000 households and can be downloaded here.
Download the free booklet(PDF, 2MB)
Opening hours
11am – 3pm Tuesday and Sunday.
General admission – tickets at the door.
Guided tours for groups available.
Location
100 Gardenia Road, Thomastown VIC 3074
Get directions
Contact
Email: ziebells@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 9464 5062
More information
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