“Good Camping Place” Aboriginal

Quat Quatta was built in 1890 on the grounds of “Erindale,” the property of a wealthy early settler, Thomas Monahan. His daughter, Betsy Keogh, who engaged prominent architect, W.H. Cooper, erected it soon after his death.

Craftsmen from Italy were imported by Cooper to prepare the hand painted and stained glass windows, the intricate parquetry dance floor and the marble tiled verandahs. Quat Quatta was completed for the then, grand price, of twelve thousand pounds.

In 1893, the Hon. J.A. Wallace M.L.C., Betsy Keogh’s Brother in Law, required a “town house” due to his political commitments in Melbourne. Consequently, he bought Quat Quatta estate in Ripponlea, consisting of eleven acres of rose gardens, tennis court and stables. At that time, Quat Quatta and Ripponlea were the only two houses in the area.

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