Chateau Wyuna began as the dream home of artist Clarence Earle, set in the scenic Bellbird Country along Olinda Creek. Construction started in the early 1900s and took nine years to complete. The first structures built were the fireplaces and chimney, crafted by a skilled stonemason using stones chosen by Earle. He then worked with Pat and Jim Clancy to build the main building over six years.

Timber was sourced from the surrounding forest, felled and carted five kilometers by a six-horse team, and seasoned for five years before use. Some of the logs were 18 meters long, and only the edges were dressed with a bread-axe to preserve the natural beauty of the wood. Inside, the timbers were finished with an adze, creating a smooth, textured finish, and much of the built-in furniture was made from local stringybark.

A unique addition to the house was the marble bath, installed at the request of Earle’s close friend, soprano Dame Nellie Melba. The bath was fed by creek water through a copper faucet.

After World War II, the Log Cabin opened as a restaurant named “Chateau Wyuna,” with the name “Wyuna” meaning “on running waters” in Aboriginal language, honoring the creek. Over time, the original buildings were blended to form the charming reception centre we know today. In 1985, a classic weatherboard church from Montrose was added, originally built in 1909, and relocated to the site.