Is Werribee Park Mansion Good for Portraits? An Insider's View
Dede Harrington, back lit, on the upstairs balcony at the Werribee Mansion. The balcony, particularly later in the day, is an excellent place to photograph: the walls are clean, the architecture is stately. PHOTO: Campbell Mattinson.
Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was the tourism officer for Werribee Park Mansion – by default, at least. I managed publications at Wyndham City Council, which at the time was responsible for all Werribee tourism, the mansion included. I'm often asked whether the mansion is a good place for a photoshoot, and in particular for portraits. Here's my view.
The short answer is yes, it is. The longer answer is yes, but plan ahead.
First, a story. As glorious as the mansion is today, restored, it would surprise many to know that in the 1970s it lay unused – closed to the public, unrestored, its future unclear. It was a grey period. The old Board of Works, which later became Melbourne Water, had a hand in the place, and some of its workers had keys; whether the state government had yet formally bought it is another matter. A family friend worked for the Board at the time, and he was one of those with a key. Late on hot summer evenings he would open the doors, lay out a picnic dinner for himself and, he told me, his lover, and eat with the whole mansion to himself, as if he were the lord of it. He used that word when he told me – lord – and he looked genuinely proud as he said it.
Nobody gets the place to themselves now. That's the first thing to understand about shooting here.
What makes it work for portraits
Werribee Park Mansion was built between 1874 and 1877 for the Scottish pastoralist brothers Thomas and Andrew Chirnside, who made their fortune in wool. It has 60 rooms, a central tower, and an arcade running around three sides of the main block. It's the only major freestone house in Victoria, and much of the interior is original or faithfully restored. Film and television crews know it well – it has served as a backdrop for Miss Fisher, Winchester and Neighbours.
For a portrait photographer that means period texture everywhere you point the camera: tiled floors, carved stone, columns, dark timber, tall windows. The difficulty isn't finding a backdrop. It's getting a clean frame without a tour group in it.
Where to shoot, and what you'll get
[PHOTO: Entry hall – note on the shot]
The entry hall is the showpiece: a Minton encaustic tiled floor, niches, Corinthian pilasters and free-standing columns leading to the grand staircase. The floor alone is worth shooting from a low angle.
[PHOTO: Grand staircase – note on the shot]
The staircase is the shot everyone wants, which is exactly why it's the hardest to get. It's a thoroughfare. You'll be working in the gaps between visitors.
A Parks Victoria staffer on the grand staircase in the entrance foyer of the Werribee Park Mansion. The staircase is excellent for top-down shooting. PHOTO: Campbell Mattinson.
[PHOTO: Library or dining room – note on the shot]
The reception rooms, library and dining room are all classically ornamented and lend themselves to seated, formal portraits.
[PHOTO: The arcade – note on the shot]
Outside, the arcade gives you columns, stone and shade in one place – often the easiest portrait light on the property.
[PHOTO: Façade and tower – note on the shot]
For full-length or environmental shots, the front of the building with the tower behind reads unmistakably as Werribee.
[PHOTO: Gardens, grotto, lake or bluestone farmyard – note on the shot]
The formal gardens, grotto and ornamental lake were laid out by William Guilfoyle, curator of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. Behind the mansion, the old bluestone farm buildings offer something plainer and rougher – a useful contrast to all that sandstone. The Victoria State Rose Garden, with around 5000 roses, is next door.
Street Photography
Not technically ‘street’ photography but candid photography, inside the mansion itself, can turn out well. You’d want to exercise a high level of respect, courtesy and discretion if you were to go down this path – or, as I did, use a family member – but the moodiness of the rooms and corridors lends itself to a street photography vibe.
The planning part
The mansion is open daily from 10am to 4pm, last entry 3.30pm. That rules out golden hour indoors; if you want evening light, it'll be in the gardens, and even then the car park gates close at 5.30pm on weekdays and 6.30pm on weekends and public holidays.
Everyone in your shoot needs a ticket. General admission is $12.60 for adults and $9.10 concession; the gardens and rose garden are free.
The mansion stays open to the public while you work. You don't get exclusive use of any room, and you can't block paths, doorways or the staircase. Patience is part of the job here.
If you're shooting professionally – for a client, for sale, or for anything that might end up commercial – you need a filming and photography permit from Parks Victoria. That includes portrait photographers. The application requires a certificate of currency for at least $20 million public liability insurance noting Parks Victoria's interest, plus a site map. Allow at least 10 business days after all documents are in; applications that don't allow that lead time aren't accepted. Fees vary with the complexity of the shoot, and conditions – including what equipment you can bring inside – are written into the permit itself, so read it closely. Weddings go through a separate wedding permit.
You'll find other guides online quoting more specific rules: a seven-day lead time, a $150 late fee, set half-day and full-day commercial rates, and equipment limited to one camera and one tripod. These details don't match Parks Victoria's current published information and appear to be out of date, though they may reflect conditions that applied in the past. Either way, the direction of travel is clear. A photographer friend of mine shot at the park without a permit and was charged $275 on the spot – a figure that presumably included some kind of penalty. Rules change, fees change, and enforcement clearly happens. Get approval before you go.
Hobby photographers with basic equipment, not making images commercially available, generally don't need a permit. If there's any chance the images will be used commercially later, Parks Victoria's advice is to apply anyway.
Video of model Dede Harrington, shot in the late afternoon sun on the Werribee Mansion balcony. Shooting at the Werribee Park Mansion is always a two-part question: is it good inside, and is it good outside?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to take portraits at Werribee Park Mansion?
If you're a professional or the photos will be used commercially, yes – Parks Victoria's filming and photography permit explicitly covers portrait photographers. Amateur photographers taking personal photos with basic equipment generally don't need one.
What happens if I shoot without a permit?
You risk being charged on the spot. One photographer I know was charged $275 after shooting without a permit. Given that the rules and fees change, pre-approval is the safer course.
How far ahead should I apply?
At least 10 business days once all your documents are submitted, or 20 business days if a drone is involved. Late applications aren't accepted.
How much does a permit cost?
It depends on the shoot. Parks Victoria sets fees by complexity and publishes them in its fees and charges schedule; you can also ask for a quote in the comments section of the application form.
Can I fly a drone at Werribee Park?
Only with a permit and a licensed, CASA-certified operator. Recreational drones aren't permitted on Parks Victoria land at all.
What are the mansion's opening hours?
10am to 4pm every day, including public holidays, with last entry at 3.30pm.
Can I get sunset portraits at the mansion?
Not inside – it closes at 4pm. The gardens are an option in late light, but watch the car park closing times.
Can I get the grand staircase to myself?
Not during opening hours. It's a public thoroughfare, so plan to shoot between visitors.
Can I bring a pram or a dog?
No prams inside the mansion, and no dogs anywhere in Werribee Park other than assistance dogs.
Was Miss Fisher filmed at Werribee Park Mansion?
Yes. The mansion has also appeared in Winchester and Neighbours – among many other shows. It’s been used extensively in Australian comedy sketches over the years.
