Westgarthtown — Historic German & Wendish Settlement in Melbourne's North
The Friends of Westgarthtown Inc. was formed in 1995 and incorporated in 1996 to care for Westgarthtown's German and Wendish heritage and its unique architectural and landscape legacy, sixteen kilometres north of Melbourne in Thomastown.
ABOUT WESTGARTHTOWN
Westgarthtown is a historic dairy farming settlement established in 1850 by German and Wendish immigrants, now sitting within the residential suburbs of Thomastown and Lalor in the City of Whittlesea. Many of its bluestone heritage buildings still survive, including Ziebell's Farmhouse — Victoria's oldest surviving German immigrant building — a picturesque Lutheran Cemetery, and Australia's oldest continuously operating Lutheran church.
Key Historic Sites & Visitor Information
Ziebell's Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden, Thomastown
Photo by Ange Belot
Ziebell's original farmhouse, barn and outbuildings have been lovingly restored by the City of Whittlesea. Explore the farmhouse, bath house, smoke house and cart shed, and don't miss the heritage garden, still tended by descendants and volunteers today.
Visit Ziebell’s
Plan your trip and explore the restored farmhouse, bath house, smoke house and cart shed. the garden is not to be missed and is tended to by descendants and volunteers to this day.
Keen to Volunteer?
We're always on the lookout for keen gardeners to help maintain the stunning grounds of Ziebell's Farmhouse Heritage Garden.
Latest News & Events
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New opening hours and volunteers wanted
Ziebell’s Farmhouse and heritage garden has entered a new era. Having recently attained Museum accreditation, Ziebell's Farmhouse is launching the next stage of its development, including extended hours and limited volunteer opportunities.
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Self-Guided Tours of the Lutheran Reserve
While visiting Ziebell's Farmhouse, take a self-guided walking tour of the Lutheran Reserve and other historic Westgarthtown sites. Our four-page downloadable guide includes maps, a recommended walking route, and background history on each site.
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Friends of Westgarthtown Newsletter
We've published informative newsletters for our members since 1996. Browse the archive — now fully searchable, including individual family names covered in past articles — and become a member to be notified when the next issue drops.
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Searching for a Family Name?
Researching your family history at Westgarthtown? Start with our Founding Families directory to find cemetery records and related newsletter articles for names like Ziebell, Schultz, Wuchatsch, Graff, and more.