Feature Profiles
10 January, 2026
SUMMER READING Big house on little screen
The night stately mansion was compulsory viewing
ADVERTISED 15 years ago as a ‘renovator’s delight’, the impressive two-story Victorian mansion in Inglewood, Nimmitabel, has lived up to its description.
Melbourne couple Justin Lewis and Lisa Calandro purchased the house at an auction in 2010 as a country retreat and a renovation project. The manor which was built in 1881 had only been on the market once before in its long history.
“We were told you’re mad if you buy it but you’re mad if you don’t,” said Lisa as she charfted the restoration and TV cameras darting around. “There’s a bit of a madness element in it” said Justin about the extent of the renovations they had planned.
The house was commissioned by Inglewood general store merchant Joseph Tivey to house his large family.
Tivey worked with Bendigo architect William Vahland to design the home. The building Tivey ran his general store from is now the Inglewood Emporium.
Justin and Lisa have been working on renovations for the house for more than four years to ensure they are able to maintain as much of the house’s character as possible. The renovation process was captured by TV series Renovations Australia and aired last Thursday on national television that was almost compulsory viewing in Inglewood homes and across the district.
The stately home, opposite the town hall, has long been a magnet for photographers and admirers of the designs of Vahland, the noted goldfields architect whose buildings still stand in Inglewood, Bendigo and other towns as a legacy to the golden riches taken from the ground in the 19th century. While Lisa and Justin were aware the house required extensive renovations, unexpected challenges prolonged the journey, with the house needing a significant amount of underpinning, delays in materials as well as trade shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the long and hard work required for the house Lisa told the TV crew that “we’ve always enjoyed it, and wanted to honour the origins of the house.”
Achieving this has meant waiting for the right people with the right skills to do the job, “it’s really hard to get the right trades people.” She said.
Inside the house a mural pays tribute to the town and its history, painted by Shawn Lu, the mural decorates the staircase with many small details that are a nod to the house’s history.
“Lisa had a specific brief - to pay homage to the house, to pay homage to the flora and fauna of the area,” Shaun said when he joined Lisa, Justin and friends to mark the end of the television filming last year.
Shaun, one of seven artists who pitched for the commission, spent almost four weeks creating his masterpiece that also pays homage to William Morris whose original wallpaper is still on the walls of Nimmitabel while also adding a magpie and a kangaroo.
Lisa says the restoration had brought Nimmitabel into the 20th century and “maybe even edging into the 21st”.
“When we bought the house, there were only three powerpoints. Our restoration project and coming to Inglewood so often, has allowed us to make so many new friends,” she said.
“Restoration Australia started filming with us in 2020 - and this was their final filming session - for the ‘reveal’ of kitchen, dining room and staircase mural.”
Justin said: “The house was already a celebrity, we are riding on the coat tails. It’s been a great ride and a real privilege.”
When they originally purchased the house Justin and Lisa didn’t expect to be involved with the town as much as they are, but they say, “we’ve got lots of friends here in Inglewood and Kingower. People look out for the house and us.”
The 13 stately rooms of the 1881 mansion are now again reflecting the glory of the golden and marvellous era.
Recently Justin performed at the Inglewood Town Hall as part of the Small Halls Festival travelling Australia.
The restored Nimmitabel was opened to the public for the first time last October as a part of the 2024 Loddon Arts Trail event ... the stately mansion a magnet for popularity.