Moondai Farm History

A History Woven Into the Land

Moondai Farm is steeped in history, shaped by remarkable people and evolving eras. The property has been home to influential owners and continues to be a place where heritage and landscape intertwine.

Early Beginnings – Barnescourt

The land was first subdivided in the mid-1800s and purchased by William Scott, an Irish immigrant. The Scott family established a dairy farm and built a large homestead on the site where the current residence now stands. They named the property “Barnescourt” and worked the land until 1912.

Sadly, the original homestead stood for over a century before it was lost in the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.

The Burbank Era – Moondai is Born

In 1912, the property was bought by Orlando Burbank, a wealthy Melbourne businessman. He renamed the farm “Moondai.”

Burbank used Moondai as a country retreat for family and friends. Passionate about the outdoors, he created the region’s first trout hatchery along the rear of the property. Later introduced to golf by friends, he became so enamored with the sport that he built the area’s first 9-hole golf course right here on the farm.

In 1944, Burbank sold the property, and it went on to be owned by several other notable and intriguing individuals.

Continuing the Legacy

Today, efforts are underway to uncover even more of Moondai Farm’s rich past, in collaboration with the Marysville and District Historical Society. Each discovery adds another layer to the story of this remarkable property.