Melbourne’s Overnewton Castle sold to Hare Krishnas in $7m deal

Hare Krishnas are understood to have bought Overnewton Castle. Picture: Nicole Cleary.

Melbourne’s landmark Overnewton Castle has been sold in a more than $7m deal that’s understood to have the city’s Hare Krishna faith group set to take over.

The 12-bedroom mansion in Keilor was listed for sale with a $6m-$6.6m asking price earlier this year after 50 years owned by the Norton family.

Built in the 1800s and inspired by a Scottish Baronial castle, it has been used as a wedding and high tea venue since 1961.

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The 51 Overnewton Rd estate has also appeared in films including horror movie Next of Kin.

Industry sources have revealed the property has been sold for a sum just over $7m, arguably a record for the suburb, with a purchase on the behalf of the Hare Krishnas in Melbourne.

Christies International Real Estate director Sean Cussell declined to comment on the sale, or the buyers, but said the property had attracted more than 100 groups and three offers in what was a positive for Melbourne more broadly.

Inside the ballroom of Overnewton Castle, which has hosted thousands of weddings and high teas.

The mansion was built in an homage to Scottosh Baronial castles in the United Kingdom.

“It’s good news for the wider Melbourne market and shows the depth of the market is still there,” Mr Cussell said.

Emma Stott, daughter of Dr Lesley Norton who bought it in 1975, previously said the family had sold the “labour of love” in the hopes the western suburbs’ hidden gem would find its way to a new custodian for the future.

The family announced in August that they would close the popular wedding and high tea venue from March, 2026.

A grand hall inside the property has been used for the vows of countless couples.

Emily Stott at Overnewton Castle, which she has described as her family’s “labour of love”.

Wrapped in ivy vines, Overnewton Castle’s ornate ballroom and reception spaces are part of a 35-room layout that also includes 12 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and a turret with a spiral staircase.

The 2.26ha property is one of the biggest in the area, and had space for 100 car parks and features elm and oak trees that have been growing there for 176 years.

It was originally built by Scottish pastoralist William James Taylor who later became the mayor of Keilor.

The mansion’s sumptuous decor is understood to be about to host Melbourne’s hare krishna community.

Regally appointed rooms throughout the home are still similar to what you might have expected in the 1800s.

A stables, coach house and lamp room are still located in the grounds.

Records show the top sale price in Keilor previously was for a bluestone hobby farm at 321 Arundel Rd, that sold for $8,772,500 in 2019, but on a substantially larger landholding measured in the hectares.

Otherwise, the suburb’s next biggest home sale was a Borrell St address sold for $6.85m in 2022.

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