A snapshot in time: One of WA’s oldest mansions hits market

Western Australia’s oldest inland town, York is home to more heritage buildings than any other WA township and one of its oldest mansions, the mid-1840s built Faversham House, has been listed for sale.

Classified by the National Trust, Faversham House, located at 24 Grey Street, York on a sprawling 1.72ha, was constructed from 1850 to 1906, and was built mostly by convicts.

The original owner, John Monger, was the first merchant to set up business in York and the Monger family were early settlers in the town, arriving in 1829.

Today, there are multiple WA sites named after the family, including Monger Street in the Perth CBD, and Lake Monger, which has now reverted to its traditional Noongar name of Galup.

Listed as a Best Offer campaign until August 25 with a price guide from $2.5 million, sales agent Alan Bourke of Bourkes said the stately manor was one of WA’s oldest homes.

“It’s 1300sqm of total flooring area, including balconies upstairs and 15 beds and 13 bathrooms,” he said.

“This has got a grand lounge room, a dining room to seat 20 people, a ballroom … a billiard room, a cellar – it’s a grand, grand home.”

Located about an hour and a half from Perth, Mr Bourke said York was steeped in history and likened the town to a snapshot in time.

“When you go down the main street, you see how prosperous it was in the days of the gold rushes and the people literally walking to the Goldfields in Coolgardie.”

Faversham House is among 100 properties classified as significant by the National Trust in York, which also includes the 1852 built York Courthouse Complex which was built in 1852, the 1859 York Motor Museum, and the York Post Office, 1893.

In 1939, Faversham House was donated to the Australian Government and the Red Cross used it as a hospital and convalescent home for returned servicemen.

From 1994 and 1996, the manor was extensively restored, and used for accommodation and functions.

Traditional hallmarks of Victorian and Georgian architecture remain throughout Faversham House, which include ceiling roses, articulated dry stonewalling and fireplaces.

Many of the period antique furnishes are included with the sale.

After the death of his mother, Eden Munro is selling the grand estate, which had been in his family since 2022.

His late mother had created a bed and breakfast, Mr Munro said, which was a haven of peace and quiet where guests were encouraged to have a bit of a “digital disconnect”.

“We are selling it as a private residence, so whether a large family or a small family wants to buy it and live there full time, I think that would be quite spectacular,” he said.

“But also beyond that, it’s set up already as a short term accommodation for bed and breakfast. We’ve got a commercial kitchen. There’s three phase power all over the place as well, because we were going to run events.”

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