McCrae Homestead and Museum

McCrae Homestead and Museum is located down the Mornington Peninsula in the coastal suburb of McCrae. Built in 1844 by Andrew and Georgiana McCrae, it is one of Victoria's oldest homesteads and a physical reminder of the life of early pioneers, using locally available materials. Georgiana was an accomplished artist, musician and diarist. Her sketches, housed in the museum beside the original homestead, contain the rare collection of 19th century family heirlooms and artworks. The two museums house the story of the McCrae's and the Burrell family. The Burrell's lived at the homestead from 1851 to 1925. McCrae Homestead is currently host to a cross-cultural education program in partnership with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, where primary school students can learn via hands-on activities about the culture and daily life of the local Bunurong people, who co-existed alongside the McCrae's, under the guidance of Taungurung woman and experienced Indigenous Learning Facilitator Samantha Trist. The site is currently in the process of including an example of a ‘Willum’—a traditional Bunurong dwelling—to serve as an interpretive installation in direct comparison to the existing colonial building. The interpretation will include a remnant camp site including examples of traditional Indigenous working tools.