4 properties that embody Wuthering Heights' iconic Gothic style
With Emerald Fennell’s new Wuthering Heights adaptation now screening across Australia, starring Aussie actors Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the Gothic style synonymous with the Bronte sisters’ world is in the spotlight.
Dark, moody properties located in the isolated moors of England, where the supernatural lurks, are the setting for not only Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, but also other Bronte classics, including Jane Eyre by Charlotte.
If you’re an investor who loves a touch of drama, here are four commercial properties across Australia that echo the moody grandeur of Thrushcross Grange, where the torturous love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw takes centre stage.
Wynstay Estate, Mount Wilson, NSW
Wynstay Estate embodies a sense of brooding grandeur that wouldn’t feel out of place on the moors of Wuthering Heights. Spread over nearly 83 hectares of rugged Blue Mountains landscape, this estate comprises heritage buildings, enchanting gardens, and atmospheric grounds that evoke a rich Gothic feel.
Established in 1875 by Sydney merchant Richard Wynne, Wynstay has remained one of the most celebrated private holdings in NSW for more than a century, and is now on the market for $6.5 million. Flashes of pure Gothic romance emerge through the estate’s historic elements, including its crumbling stone walls that creep along garden edges and secluded paths beneath towering conifers.
5a Frederick Street, Launceston, TAS
Unsurprisingly, Launceston is home to more than one Gothic gem. Tucked just off the main thoroughfare is the Gothic revival Chalmers Church, built in 1859. It was named after Thomas Chalmers, the founder of the Free Church movement in Scotland following the 1843 Great Disruption of the Church of Scotland. His followers were known as Free Kirkers. The church became a Presbyterian church in 1896 and was deconsecrated in 1981.
The building’s high-ceilinged interiors and period detailing offer a canvas for businesses seeking individuality. It’s easy to imagine the church becoming a gallery, wine bar or event space. It’s currently being used as a modern workspace for the Tasmanian Walking Company, which celebrates its original details, including weathered timber doors and exposed brick.
It’s the kind of haunt where whispered conversations and flickering candlelight bring an edge of intrigue.
55 Maud Street, Geelong, VIC
This Maud Street property, formerly the Geelong Grammar School, was built in 1857 and offers four levels of accommodation within walking distance of the Geelong CBD, the waterfront, GMHBA Stadium, and South Geelong train station.
The iconic Gothic Tudor-style building features 28 rooms, multiple commercial kitchens, recreational areas, and well-manicured gardens, which are ideal for meeting with banished lovers without anyone knowing.
Heaven Lea, Sedgwick, VIC
Heaven Lea is a Wuthering Heights castle-themed estate located on 237 hectares, 15 minutes north of Bendigo.
The homestead is immersed in nature, bordered on three sides by Pilchers Nature Bridge Reserve. At its centre stands “the castle”, constructed from double Hebel brick for year-round comfort and crowned with four peaked turrets that echo medieval fortifications. The entrance opens to 6.7-metre-high ceilings and reclaimed brick flooring laid in herringbone style. A timber staircase leads to mezzanine reading and office zones, with bedrooms and a powder room above, while the lower level houses the kitchen, laundry and family bathroom.
Connected via a breezeway is “the keep”, which offers more bedrooms, living space and a kitchenette, bringing the total accommodation to up to six bedrooms across the two buildings. A separate, self-contained, eco-conscious one-bedroom B&B beside a kidney-shaped dam adds further flexibility and passive income potential.
