Beleura, an Italianate mansion built by James Butchart in 1863. Once the Governor of Victoria's Summer House, later the summer residence of Sir George Tallis and his family. Sir George headed arguably the greatest theatrical and entertainment empire the world has ever seen. "Beleura is a wonderful time capsule, a theatre of the past, yet it appears that life in the house goes on. Unlike a theatre, Beleura and its contents are real - were ever thus; the world it contains will continue if the world as we know it continues. The future will find the past preserved, and be able to understand a life, even into the 21st Century and beyond. The magic of Beleura is the depth of its provenance collection of household things - some grand but much ephemeral, trivial, amusing... " Sir George died in 1948, when by family agreement Beleura was inherited by his youngest son, John Tallis, gentleman, composer - who later bequeathed Beleura and its contents to the people of Victoria in 1996 as a place of historic and educational interest. Beleura hosts an ever popular program of House and Garden Tours, please refer to the Beleura website for details. Bookings are essential and easy to make - phone or email.
