A property of national significance, Buda Historic Home and Garden is also recognised as a National Heritage Asset of Importance and is widely acknowledged as contributing to regional tourism and development. Beyond tourism, Buda is focal point for volunteers and as a place of learning that also supports events and social activities. Building upon the ...
Buda Historic Home and Garden
Buda Master Plan Stage 2: Celebrating Regional Heritage

GOAL
$50,000
Field of Interest
- Arts and culture
- Community and economic development
Target Population
- General population
- Not applicable

Buda Historic Home and Garden is a house and garden museum located in the Central Victorian township of Castlemaine. The house, with its contents and surrounding garden, remains largely intact as a rare example of a family’s lifestyle and artistic endeavours surviving from the early goldrush era of 1853 up until 1981 when it passed from Leviny family ownership to the community of Castlemaine. The historic house and three acre garden, with its unique collection of artistic works, is acknowledged as a significant heritage asset not only to the region, but also to the state of Victoria and Australia.
Buda’s mission is to enrich our community with a better understanding and appreciation of Australia’s goldrush history, migration and the subsequent changes in society through the Leviny family’s lifestyle and cultural pursuits dating. Buda engages broader audiences to become involved in the arts, horticulture and heritage through an inclusive range of public programs and volunteerism linked with our key themes.
Its vision is to be a vibrant place, enriching the visitor experience and appreciation of our heritage and offering an appealing spectrum of inclusive programs and events, to encourage new and return visitors to the property.
Project Summary
A property of national significance, Buda Historic Home and Garden is also recognised as a National Heritage Asset of Importance and is widely acknowledged as contributing to regional tourism and development. Beyond tourism, Buda is focal point for volunteers and as a place of learning that also supports events and social activities.
Building upon the 2022 Master Plan and Business Case, Buda seeks to progress its tourism infrastructure development project to investment ready status, to enhance accessibility and experiences for visitors, staff and volunteers and support the development of tourism activity and visitation to central Victoria.
Project Outcomes
The Buda Master Plan stage 2 project, will provide the planning and building permits, final drawings, documentation and costings to progress the Master Plan to investment ready status. The Committee of Management of Buda have identified the importance of removing administration, ticketing and archival storage functions from their current accommodation within the main house, and creating purpose-built spaces for these.
The construction work will also allow precious collection items to be moved out of the main house to a purpose-built archival storage space that will provide climate- and pest-control to ensure the protection of these important heritage pieces.
In addition, the administration staff, reception and gift shop will be re-housed in the renovated Garden Room, giving them functional spaces to undertake their work. By removing the storage, administration and reception functions from the main house, these seven rooms will be able to be restored and opened to the public for the first time. This will allow a more complete history of the house to be enjoyed by visitors and provide more opportunities for regular exhibitions, thereby attracting more annual visitation.
The development will enable Buda to appeal to new market segments by diversifying the current range of Buda products and services (including visitor experiences), broaden accessibility, contribute to the Central Victorian Goldfields UNESCO World Heritage Bid and deliver long term economic, cultural and community benefits to Buda and its partners.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $617,738
FUNDING
Funding source | Amount |
---|---|
Enabling Tourism Fund (confirmed) | $494,190 |
Rotary Castlemaine (confirmed) | $40,000 |
Bequest (confirmed) | $30,158 |
Buda Annual Giving appeal (unconfirmed) | $3,390 |
Funding gap (unconfirmed) | $50,000 |
EXPENSES
Expense item | Amount |
---|---|
Design Development / Town Planning | $285,110 |
Construction / Building Permit | $332,628 |
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