Our History

The name Eschol is biblical, taken from the 'promised lands of Eschol', a place of vineyards. When William Fowler, a devout Christian took over the large land holding in 1850, he called the area Eschol Park and established a flourishing vineyard. From the outset there were problems with the spelling. In early church registers and land title documents 'Eshcol' was often mistakenly spelt 'Eschol'.

Fowler built the two storey cellar into the hillside south of the house which still stands. His wines won numerous gold and silver medals in the Paris wine exhibition of 1885. Within a decade he was producing 2000 to 3000 gallons of award winning wines per year.

The earliest sections of the old homestead were built around 1816 by it's then owner Mark Millington. (The cottage can still be seen from the Queen Victoria Ballroom and the rear of the house). In 1817 Millington sold the 50 acre property to Thomas Clarkson who increased the size of the property to 1300ha and in 1820 built the two storey house we see today. In later years the property was well known as Eagle Farm or Eagle Vale hence the name of the neighbouring peppercorn suburb.

A line of trees in Eschol Park Drive off Raby Road mark what was once the entrance of the property.

In 1876 William Fowler sold all his land to Samuel Spencer Milgate who owned a local produce shop off Queen Street Campbelltown. Milgate sold the property two years later and John Gorus, a Dutch photographer bought the property and lived there until the end of the century.

In 1890 a single storey bow fronted addition was made to the house.

Vineyards across the region were badly hit in the 1890's by the phylloxera disease and Eschol Park was devastated. The surrounding land remained as rural hills for many years until the mid 1970's when it was embarked for future housing developments.

During the second world war the estate was used as a detention camp to house German Embassy Staff. It is rumoured to contain buried Nazi bullion. (Click here to read the Macarthur Chronicle article 'Treasure Hunt').

The year 1991 saw Croatian migrant Joe Masina and his family, wife Maria and sons Paul and John, purchase Eschol Park House and create one of the leading reception venues in the Sydney metropolitan district.

One of Joe's first projects was to restore the heritage protected Victorian Fountain in the front garden. It took many hours and much consternation to find the tiny hole that allowed all the water to drain from the fountain. The cellar also had to have the earth around it excavated to allow for better drainage.

The surrounding gardens are now lovingly tended by Joe and Maria and are used for wedding ceremonies and make a fantastic backdrop for wedding photographs.

The Queen Victoria Ballroom was extended in 1993 and can now cater for up to 200 guests. In 1997 a new second storey extension was completed to add the new Regency Room and the same year saw the glorious Garden Room open for smaller weddings and corporate functions.

During your visit you are most welcome to explore this historic house and enjoy it's gracious atmosphere.