established in 1890
Ned Stringer, a former convict, discovered gold in 1863 in a tributary of the Thomson River now known as Stringers Creek.
In 1863 Johannes Gloz arrived in Walhalla in search of gold. Originally from Germany, Johannes settled in the newly thriving township buying land in the first land sales of 1860s. Johannes bought additional parcels of land in Walhalla including the land opposite Windsor House upon which the shed is now located.
After building several houses on his land, Johannes built for his new wife, Sophie, a grand two storey brick residence. This impressive building was built in two stages and was constructed of 90,000 hand made bricks. These bricks would of been made locally where the clay was located usually near a river or creek bed, then fired in a wood fired kiln. An interesting feature of Windsor House is where it has been built into the rock face creating a rugged rock hallway leading into the cellar.
Johannes was an industrious man growing grapes on the land behind the house and making his own wine. His other occupations included carpentry and working as the undertaker at the local cemetery. Johannes’ step-son, Herman Gloz, also worked as an undertaker and as a carpenter. He built the hospital in Walhalla and made and supplied coffins.
After the construction of Windsor House was complete, it was a family home and later operated by the Gloz family as a boarding house. The property remained in the ownership of the Gloz family until the 1980s when it was used as a museum and then a bed and breakfast to the present day.
Windsor House has survived fires and floods in the township of Walhalla. It stands as a monument to the earlier days of the gold mining town’s rich history and is one of the towns last remaining original buildings.
Windsor House is classified “A” by the National Trust of Australia.
We look forward to your stay.