Artist's Home in Court Battle

ABC Central Victoria

Topic: Monument and Heritage Site

Trevor Hoare has filed for possession of Fontainebleau on Mount Macedon.

In short:

Trevor Hoare has filed for possession of Frederick McCubbin's former home.

McCubbin's great-granddaughter says the family's legacy lives on.

What's next?

The possession claim is being heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

On Mount Macedon, the quiet is broken by birds and planes.

Frederick McCubbin, a famous painter, called this place home over 100 years ago.

His home, Fontainebleau, is surrounded by a lush garden and trees.

The living room inside Fontainebleau.

The ABC was given access to the historic property by Trevor Hoare.

Trevor Hoare has lived in Fontainebleau for two decades.

But his boxes are packed near the front door as he prepares to leave.

The entrance has scant natural light, flaky paint, and water damage.

The kitchen is in the extension part of the house.

Narrow paths lead to shaded nooks where Mr Hoare has entertained friends.

But the upkeep has slipped away recently due to his declining health.

Mr Hoare applied for possession to bring in the right people to fix it up.

The property is shaded by large trees and surrounded by bush.

Possession claim

Mr Hoare is watching wrens flitter in the bird bath.

He arrived at Fontainebleau 23 years ago on the invitation of Mark Cutler.

But he said he was not brought in as caretaker.

The house was vacant and overgrown, but Mr Hoare loved it and moved in.

The front of the Fontainebleau house.

Mr Hoare has kept the house alive, but can't maintain it anymore.

The battle for possession has reached the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Despite claims of its dilapidated state, Mr Hoare says the house is not falling down.

Mr Hoare's biggest problem was that he couldn't sign anything.

There were grants available, but he couldn't get them without owning the property.

The house is nestled among a flourishing garden.

The roof has structural issues, requiring Mr Hoare to collect rain in bins.

Mr Hoare will look for the right people to take on the property if he gets possession.

He wants a group of philanthropists or a gallery to take it on.

Paul Cutler, who is fighting Mr Hoare's application, declined an interview.

Fontainebleau has been held by the Southern Cross Foundation since 1979.

The foundation is committed to the careful stewardship of the property.

McCubbin family

Frederick McCubbin's great-granddaughter Margot Edwards has visited Fontainebleau.

She doesn't want to judge who should take on the property.

Margot Edwards at Mount Macedon.

McCubbin's wife added a guest house extension to the home after his death.

The legacy is in the spirit of the place, in the bush itself.

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Ms Edwards says Mr Hoare loved the place and looked after it with limited resources.

He showed them old pathways uncovered from tangled weeds.

He expressed sadness at the state of the roof and wild winter weather.

'National treasure'

Fontainebleau is where McCubbin painted some of his best-known works.

It has been listed on the Victorian Heritage Register since 2010.

Frederick McCubbin's former home, Fontainebleau, circa 1909.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council visited the property to assess its condition.

The possession battle is due to return to court in August.

Mr Hoare says Fontainebleau is an extremely important national treasure.

Whether he gets it or not, he's happy it will be saved.

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