Chateau Wyuna has been hosting weddings for over 40 years.
Our mission is to host memorable celebrations by giving the couple the wedding of their dreams.
You can therefore be assured we will make the process easy and enjoyable so you can focus on what really matters – celebrating a major event in your life and creating ever lasting memories.
Our People
Our cornerstone is the people who work here. Everyone in our team fulfills their role to the highest standard and with a genuine passion. Here are some of the people you may meet.
Andrew has owned the business since 2005. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and a commitment to excellence in hospitality. He looks after the business side of things, and is highly respectful of the faith people put in us. He is a perfectionist, which means he has the high standards couples expect. You may meet him in the office.
Our Wedding Coordinators Cathy and Sarah work in the office and host weddings. Both are well known for their dedication and passion for the industry, ensuring everything is just perfect on your special day. Nothing escapes their attention to detail!
Rob is our head chef and is responsible for the high quality and presentation of the food we provide. You definitely won’t need to ‘grab something’ on the way home after an event at the Chateau!
Shane is the man to thank for our beautiful 6 acres of grounds and ensuring everything in the building works properly. He’s the one who groans at the falling leaves the rest of us admire, and will often be seen with a garden blower in his hand or riding on the mower.
Our floor and bar staff are all recruited and trained to provide high quality service in a team environment.
Our History
If you are interested in a bit of history, Chateau Wyuna began as the dream home of Australian artist Clarence Earle. The original buildings were constructed in the early 1900s, inside a loop of the Olinda Creek, in bell bird country, over a period of nine years.
The fireplaces and chimney came first with an excellent stonemason positioning the individually selected stones to Earle’s design. From here the main building was built by Earle, helped by Pat and Jim Clancy (who worked on and off with him for six years).
Timber was felled, barked and carted three miles to the site by a six-horse team, and allowed to season for five years before being used. The largest logs are 60 feet long. Except where they were broad-axe dressed to sit squarely together, the logs were left untouched.
All square timbers such as interior doors were dressed with the adze giving a textured smooth finish. Most of the furniture, made of stringybark, is built-in.
The only non-local part of the house is the marble bath which was fed with water from the creek through a copper faucet. This modern convenience was added at the request of Dame Nellie Melba’s, a close friend of Earle’s, and a regular visitor.
With this fascinating background, the Log Cabin was opened to the public as a restaurant called ‘Chateau Wyuna’ soon after WWII. Burt Lancaster (the actor) was a notable visitor when in Melbourne. The name ‘Wyuna’ comes from the local aboriginal word, meaning ‘on running waters’. Since WWII, the original buildings have been combined to make the site as it is today – interesting, unique, character-filled and an old world charm, making it a reception centre like no other. The Log Cabin is now used as a bridal retreat with ensuite and office attached.
In 1985, a charming addition to Chateau Wyuna was the beautiful weatherboard church from Montrose. Originally built in 1909, the old Church of Christ became too small to hold all of its attendees, and was transported to its present site. Both the original log cabin and chapel are heritage listed.
The team at Chateau Wyuna is proud of its heritage and equally proud of the services it offers for weddings and functions. Every detail is discussed with our clients to ensure your special occasion is exactly the way you want it and one to be remembered by all who attend.