Melbourne’s Makers of Marvellous: Big Clarke, Rupertswood and the Birthplace of The Ashes

Introduction

Few families shaped colonial Victoria more than the Clarkes. While William John Turner Clarke, better known as "Big Clarke", became Australia's wealthiest landowner, it was his family's estate at Rupertswood, Sunbury, that would later earn international recognition as the Birthplace of The Ashes.

The Birthplace of The Ashes

Rupertswood occupies a unique place in sporting history.
During England's 1882-83 cricket tour of Australia, English captain Ivo Bligh stayed at Rupertswood as the guest of Sir William and Lady Janet Clarke. During this visit, a small terracotta urn was presented to Bligh. That urn became forever linked with The Ashes, the famous cricket rivalry between Australia and England.

Today, Rupertswood is internationally recognised as the Birthplace of The Ashes, one of the most famous sporting rivalries in the world, attracting cricket enthusiasts from across Australia and overseas.

Rupertswood Mansion

A common misconception is that Big Clarke built Rupertswood Mansion. In fact, he died on 13 January 1874 before construction commenced.

Following his death, his eldest son, Sir William John Clarke, commissioned the magnificent mansion at Sunbury. Construction began in 1874, with the foundation stone laid in August that year, and the mansion was completed in 1876.

Rupertswood quickly became one of the grandest country estates in Victoria. Featuring impressive Victorian architecture, landscaped gardens, and extensive pastoral land, it symbolised the wealth, influence, and prestige of the Clarke family.

Today, the mansion remains one of Victoria's most important heritage landmarks and forms part of the historic Salesian College estate at Sunbury. It is also internationally recognised as the Birthplace of The Ashes, one of the world's most famous sporting rivalries. 

The Size of His Land Holdings

Clarke built one of the largest private land empires in the British Empire. At various times, his pastoral holdings exceeded three million acres across Australia and New Zealand.

His properties stretched across:

• Victoria
• Tasmania
• South Australia
• New Zealand

Many travellers moving through the Melbourne, Sunbury and Macedon districts found themselves passing through Clarke-owned land, illustrating the extraordinary scale of his pastoral empire.

How He Became Australia's Richest Man

Clarke's success came from acquiring and developing vast pastoral properties during the rapid expansion of colonial settlement. Rather than focusing on small-scale farming, he built a network of sheep stations across Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, and New Zealand.

His timing was exceptional. Demand for Australian wool was booming in Britain, and the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s dramatically increased both land values and the demand for agricultural products. Clarke steadily purchased more grazing runs, often holding land that later became extremely valuable.

By the 1870s, he controlled millions of acres of land and was widely regarded as the richest man in Australia. Contemporary estimates placed his wealth at around £2.5 million to £4 million, an extraordinary fortune for the time and equivalent to several billion dollars in today's terms.

Why Was He Called "Big Clarke"?

The nickname "Big Clarke" referred not only to his immense wealth but also to his physical size and commanding presence. He was also known as "Moneyed Clarke", reflecting his reputation as the colony's wealthiest landowner and one of the most influential men in Victoria.

What Happened to His Fortune?

When Big Clarke died in 1874, he remained Australia's wealthiest citizen. His vast estate passed to his sons, particularly Sir William John Clarke.

Over subsequent generations, however, the family's enormous holdings were gradually reduced through inheritance divisions, property sales, changes in land ownership laws and economic shifts. Like many great pastoral dynasties, the Clarke empire slowly diminished as Australia developed.

Political Influence

Clarke was more than a pastoralist. He served in the Victorian Legislative Council and was one of the colony's most influential political figures. His economic power, extensive landholdings and political connections gave him considerable influence over the development of colonial Victoria.

Origins and Early Life

William John Turner Clarke (1805-1874), better known throughout colonial Australia as "Big Clarke", was born on 23 June 1805 in Somerset, England. He came from a prosperous family and was raised in comfortable circumstances, enjoying advantages unavailable to most people of his era. His father, William Clarke, was a successful businessman and landowner, ensuring that young William received both a quality education and exposure to commerce from an early age.

Childhood and Schooling

Growing up in England, Clarke received a private education suited to a member of the wealthy landed class. His childhood was one of privilege, providing him with the financial security, social connections and business knowledge that would later help him succeed. Unlike many settlers who arrived in Australia with little more than ambition, Clarke came with capital, experience, and a strong understanding of business.

Arrival in Australia

At the age of twenty-four, Clarke emigrated to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) in 1829. While he benefited from family wealth and inheritance, his later fortune was not simply inherited. He recognised the enormous opportunities presented by Australia's growing pastoral industry and began investing heavily in sheep grazing and wool production.

Sunbury and the Clarke Family

No Victorian town is more strongly associated with the Clarke family than Sunbury, located approximately forty kilometres north-west of Melbourne.
The Clarke family-owned vast pastoral holdings throughout the district and played a key role in shaping the region's development. Nearby Clarkefield was named after the family and remains a reminder of their influence.

Fast Facts About Big Clarke

• Full Name: William John Turner Clarke
• Born: 23 June 1805, Somerset, England
• Died: 16 January 1874, Melbourne, Victoria
• Nickname: "Big Clarke" and "Moneyed Clarke"
• Occupation: Pastoralist, landowner, businessman and politician
• Estimated Wealth: £2.5-4 million at death.
• Land Holdings: More than three million acres.
• Town Most Associated with Him: Sunbury, Victoria
• Family Landmark: Rupertswood Mansion
• Major Legacy: Building Australia's largest pastoral empire and establishing the family estate that became the birthplace of The Ashes

More than 150 years after his death, Big Clarke remains one of the most significant figures in Australian colonial history. His rise from a wealthy English migrant to Australia's richest landowner helped shape Victoria's pastoral industry, while his family's legacy survives through Sunbury, Clarkefield, Rupertswood and the enduring story of The Ashes.