Rock House Tours Saturday 5th September

Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival – Rock House Bus Tours – Fri 5^th September 2026

We invite you to join us on an exclusive bus tour of the grounds and property of Rock House. The management  has generously agreed to open for this year’s festival.   Due to privacy and the expansive size of the property, we are offering guided tours lasting 90 minutes. Guests will be picked up from, and returned to, Kyneton Railway station.

A brief history

Rock House was built in 1858 by Edward Argyle, a prominent district squatter, flour miller and businessman.

An earlier four-room cottage had served as the centre of the St Agnes Run, which was taken up by Edward Argyle and Abraham Booth in 1850. Booth and Argyle, prosperous Melbourne butchers, purchased the St Agnes Run at the end of 1849 and secured a pre-emptive right over the homestead area.

The homestead is a substantial two-storey bluestone residence with projecting service wings that form an unusual central rear courtyard. Although constructed primarily of stone, some brickwork is evident. The bricks were made from clay excavated on the building site. The house is an outstanding example of an early Victorian pastoral homestead, built during a period when squatters were gaining greater security of land tenure.

Rock House is clearly visible from Campaspe Place and the Kyneton Racecourse. Edward Argyle's son, Sir Stanley Argyle, later served as Premier of Victoria.