About

Overview & Vibe

An 1856 bluestone homestead on a five-generation pastoral property at Teesdale, half an hour west of Geelong on Wathaurong land. Built for James Bell, pastoralist and first editor of the Geelong Advertiser; home to the Morrison family since 1909. In 2019 Lachie Morrison leased his family's farm back from its new owner with his partner Anise Boulot and spent two years restoring it.

Setting & Style

Meandering creeks, rolling hills and towering river gums, with original bluestone buildings, a recently restored 1856 Woolshed for the reception, and garden rooms for the ceremony. The homestead has wrap-around verandas and a monkey puzzle tree; inside are wood panelling, wide oak floorboards, leadlight windows and open fireplaces, a grand piano in the formal lounge and a billiards room.

Ideal For

Couples who want a private working farm to themselves for a weekend, with the wedding party in a restored heritage homestead and guests in glamping tents a short walk away.

The Need-to-Knows

A $5,000 deposit secures a date, with the balance paid monthly or in three instalments at 12, 6 and 3 months out.
Cancellation forfeits everything paid. The venue states this plainly. A reschedule inside 12 months costs $2,000; beyond 12 months it is free.
Whether accommodation is included depends on the season — peak-season advance bookings include two nights, off-peak rates do not.
No capacity is published. Nothing on the site states a guest number.
They do not plan your wedding. Stated outright: no help booking suppliers or advising on florals.
No tents or caravans. Only homestead and glamping guests may stay on site; there are two free campsites at Inverleigh nearby.
Pool and tennis court on the property, and the Woolshed as the wet-weather option.

Standout Feature

A woolshed built the same year as the homestead, 1856, restored and put back to work for the reception.

Amenities

1856 Bluestone Homestead
Restored 1856 Woolshed
Heritage Listed Buildings
Wrap Around Verandas
Monkey Puzzle Tree
Garden Rooms
Elegant Gardens
Expansive Paddocks
Meandering Creeks
Towering River Gums
Outdoor Pool
Tennis Court
Grand Piano
Billiards Room
Open Fireplaces
Wide Oak Floorboards
Leadlight Windows
Original Wood Panelling
Onsite Glamping
Working Farm With Animals
Exclusive Private Use
Wet Weather Indoor Option
Location And Brand Shoots

Ceremony Setting

garden
outdoor
lawn
paddock
indoor
woolshed
barn
historic stone building
homestead

Dietary Options Supported

No details available.

Nearby Landmarks

Teesdale – The town the property is at
Geelong – Thirty minutes east, per the venue's own contact page
Melbourne – An hour and a half north-east
Inverleigh – The nearest town, with a pub, a cafe and two free campsites
Inverleigh Nature Reserve – A two-minute drive, with bushwalking tracks
Barwon River – The Inverleigh River Track runs along it

On Site Accommodation

The restored 1856 homestead with five bedrooms
Open fireplaces in the homestead for cooler months
Formal lounge with a grand piano, billiards room and grand dining room
Open-plan kitchen and lounge for exclusive use
Glamping tents on site for guests
Two nights included with peak-season advance bookings
Outdoor pool and tennis court
No guest tents or caravans permitted

Price Notes

TWO FIGURES ARE PUBLISHED, BOTH IN THE FAQ, AND BOTH ARE ABOUT COMMITMENT RATHER THAN COST. 'How do we secure a date at Woolbrook for our wedding? ... To secure a date we require a $5,000 deposit with the rest to be paid off either monthly or 3 lump sums 12 months, 6 months and 3 months prior to wedding.' NO PACKAGE PRICE, HIRE FEE OR PER-HEAD RATE IS PUBLISHED - the events page says so directly: 'we offer a range of event packages tailored to suit your specific requirements and budgets. Our pricing is reflective of the exclusive access to our historic property, including the beautifully restored Woolshed and picturesque gardens. While we don't list all details online, we're happy to discuss your specific requirements and provide a tailored quote.'
THE CANCELLATION TERM IS UNUSUALLY HARD AND IS STATED WITHOUT HEDGING: 'With weddings being booked so far in advance it is often impossible to fill a date within 12 months. In the event of cancellation Woolbrook will not refund any amount paid to date. A reschedule request within 12 months of your booking will attract a $2000 fee. No reschedule fees are applicable with more than 12 months notice.' Given the payment schedule runs to three months before the date, a late cancellation forfeits close to the full amount.
WHETHER ACCOMMODATION IS INCLUDED DEPENDS ON THE SEASON AND THE BOOKING DATE: 'Does venue hire include accommodation? Off peak and 2024/2025 prices do not include accommodation. Advance bookings for the 2025/2026 peak season include two nights accommodation.' NOTE THE SEASON LABELS HAVE PASSED - both 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 are behind the capture date of July 2026, and the site footer reads 'COPYRIGHT WOOLBROOK HOMESTEAD 2024'. The inclusion rule should be confirmed rather than assumed for a 2027 date. This is the season-expiry rule applying to a term rather than to a price.
THE VENUE DOES NOT PLAN THE WEDDING, AND SAYS SO: 'Does Woolbrook help with the planning side of things? We are more than happy to answer any questions you have and send you in the right direction when we can. We do not help out with booking suppliers or giving advice on florals etc though. Anise is always happy to answer any questions she can either via email or a phone call.' Unusually candid, and it sets expectations against venues that include coordination.
GUEST CAMPING IS PROHIBITED, WITH AN ALTERNATIVE GIVEN: 'Can guests bring their own tents/caravans? No we don't allow this. The only people able to stay on site are those who are staying in homestead or have booked glamping. There are two free campsites nearby town Inverleigh that guests can stay at.'
EXCLUSIVITY IS STATED: 'Woolbrook Homestead ensures a private and secluded setting... Our flexible spaces... ensure your wedding remains intimate without distractions from other events or guests.'
NO CATERING INFORMATION EXISTS ON THE DOMAIN - no caterer named, no menu, no dietary page, and no statement of whether catering is in-house or brought in. dietary_options_supported is NULL as not-published (§73), and this is the first question to ask.
THE WEDDING GUIDE IS EMAIL-GATED: 'Download our free wedding information guide for more details. Receive access to our comprehensive information guide on wedding and event packages.' The capacities and package prices that directories quote are presumably in it. Recorded as gated rather than as a document not found.
THE HERITAGE IS DOCUMENTED AND DATED ON THE VENUE'S OWN ABOUT PAGE: 'Woolbrook Homestead, built in 1856, has been a cornerstone of Australian farm life for generations. Originally constructed with local bluestone, the homestead's rich history began with pastoralist James Bell, the first editor of the Geelong Advertiser. Over the years, it became home to five generations of the Morrison family... In 1909, sisters Annie and Christina Morrison purchased the property, establishing a family legacy that included the planting of thousands of native trees... In 2019, Lachie Morrison and his partner Anise Boulot leased the homestead back from a new owner, embarking on a meticulous renovation.' A MINOR SELF-CONTRADICTION (§64): the about page says 'built in 1856' while the stay page says 'Built in 1857'. The Victorian Heritage Database entry for the Woolbrook Homestead Complex gives 1857 for the original wing by Geelong architects Shaw and Dowden - the venue's own 1856 is used here, with 1857 noted.
NO STREET ADDRESS IS PUBLISHED ON THE VENUE'S SITE - only 'Located Teesdale, Victoria. 30 Minutes west of Geelong. 1.5 Hours south west of Melbourne.' The street address recorded, 704 Teesdale-Inverleigh Road, comes from the Victorian Heritage Database listing for the Woolbrook Homestead Complex and a maps lookup, which the address carve-out permits.
RULE 8 CHECKED: 'COPYRIGHT WOOLBROOK HOMESTEAD 2024', owner-operated by two named people on a single property. No group, no parent brand.
NO STRUCTURED PRICING DATA - the site is built on Showit and carries no ld+json.