The Story of Ditchley Park Hotel
For John William Gardner, the allure of fertile farming land in dense ferny soil south of Colac was worth more than gold. Born in Smythesdale near Ballarat in 1861, Jack Gardner was working the Tasmanian gold diggings in 1885 when his father Caleb wrote from Barramunga of the opportunity to select land at Beech Forest. He quickly travelled back to Victoria and commenced clearing land, beginning a connection with the district that would last for the rest of his life and ensure his name is always associated as that of a true pioneer.
The family’s origins were in Oxfordshire, yet in 1852 Caleb Gardner arrived in Melbourne aboard the Castle Tulloch and immediately headed to the Ballarat goldfields. In fact, the entire crew of the migrant ship abandoned their posts in search of gold and it was four months before the shipping company could re-man the ship and set sail on the return journey. By 1884, Caleb was granted land at Barramunga and he soon welcomed his son’s arrival in the Otways.
Jack pitched his camp on a spot he called Ditchley Park and was the first to mark out a block where, within two years, he had built a homestead. In 1888 Jack opened Ditchley House, named after his father’s home in Oxfordshire. He married Annie Gilhome later that year and together they raised three daughters and four sons. When settlement started, Jack established a butcher’s shop and soon the Ditchley Park Hotel became a landmark in the district and known by all.
Over the following years, there was hardly an event that did not involve Jack Gardner. He never lost an opportunity to advance the interest of Beech Forest and had the utmost faith in the future of the forest. He fervently campaigned for the opening of the railway, the first local school opened in 1895 situated on Ditchley Park Estate land and he is credited with building the saleyards and the racecourse. Throughout all these endeavours, Annie Gardner was known for her kindness and generosity and joined Jack in being a strong advocate for better conditions for all those who settled in that isolated part of the State.
The original Gardner house was erected on a high hill, 1700 feet above sea level, and commanded extensive views of the Otway ranges. It had 15 rooms, all constructed of beech weatherboards and was comfortably furnished, setting a standard for others to follow. In 1895, Lord Hopetoun spent several days in the area and at a special ball held in his honour, the Victorian Governor had the first dance with Annie Gardner.
As well as being a farmer, hotelier and butcher, Jack Gardner always promoted the development of Beech Forest. He provided land for the railway station, school, Anglican and Catholic churches and the first public hall. He and Annie were known for their regular hospitality and in 1895 they organised a New Year’s Day picnic for visitors and residents of Beech Forest. In 1901, they hosted a Christmas Dinner for 50 bachelors in the vicinity of Ditchley Park, reported to be an annual event.