During the development of Australiana Colonies, the Clonbinane area was part of the Colony of N.S.W between 1788 and 1851. On July 1st 1851 Victoria was separated from N.S.W, an early mention of the name Clonbinane appeared in the Argus on September 29th 1848 in relation to claims of Leases of Crown Land. At that time a 10,400h (25,600 acre) run at Clonbinane was cited as a claim by Michael Heffernan, being located approximately 250 metres off the Clonbinane road. Clonbinane Park became home for Alexander McKenzie, he sold out to John McDonald who held the property for nearly seven years, when he passed Clonbinane to Malcom McKenzie. By 1860 John McCrae McKenzie had the property which he held for 13 years, selling the property to the London and Australian Agency Group. In April of 1883 Clonbinane Park returned to the McKenzie family. In 1890 this home was destroyed by fire.

FIRE AT CLONBINANE
Kilmore Free Press December 25th 1890
A fire originated in the children’s bedroom at Mr. Kenneth McKenzie’s residence, Clonbinane, on Saturday morning last, the result being the premises and contents were speedily consumed. Had it not been for the promptness of Mr Robert Sharkey, who first saw the fire, the chances were that some of the inmates would have been burnt. Much sympathy is felt with the family for the loss and inconvenience they have sustained.

As reported in the Broadford Courier March 1891, Mr. A Mackay has secured the contract for the erection of the new homestead at Clonbinane Park for Mr. Kenneth McKenzie. “Architect Mr. R. Fennelly has designed the new residence it has been described as a handsome one and convenient in every respect. It will consist of brick and terra cotta, the contact amount being £1200.”

Thomas G Scott another owner noted for holding nights of dancing, singing, and playing games, guests were in awe with the mansion, the well-kept lawns,spacious rooms and the tower.
In 1901 after correspondence with the education department, the Secretary of lands was instructed to have surveyed the one acre of land in the Parish of Glenburnie offered by T.G Scott as the new site for State School 1653. the school was moved in the Spring of that year onto the main road to Clonbinane.

The Robertson Family bought Clonbinane Park in 1934, a family of three sons Dave, Jack and Robert and two daughters Dorothy and Heather. Heather married Charlie Halpin of Glenburnie Park. Jack enlisted in WWII;he was in the 22nd pioneer Battalion and was taken prisoner and spent some years in a POW camp until his return home.

In 1943 Captain Arthur Craven Jowett bought the property, he and his wife Evelyn had four children, Doreen, Eric, Humphrey and Edmund. When Arthur and Evelyn eventually moved to their Toorak home, Peter Warren came to Clonbinane in 1965 as manager of “Clonbinane Park” he and his wife Heather and baby son David lived in the homestead for some time. In later years when Arthur’s son Edmund Jowett and wife Conchita came to reside in the homestead, they had a brick residence built on the opposite side of the road for his manager and family. Another son Dean was born to the Warrens while there. Peter was in Jowett’s employ for about 10 years. Edmund and Conchita welcomed a baby girl in March 1974 and named her Evelyn after the grandmother. Cliff Williams came from Hawthorn to work for Jowett’s about 1969. Their home was what had earlier been the shearers quarters.

In 2009 the Black Saturday fires completely destroyed the property, the Terra Cotta Lumber brick internal walls remained standing, the homestead still furnish was lost. The Halpin Homestead, Glenburnie was also lost on that terrible day.

Now in 2025 the property which since the fires has been neglected and becoming overrun with blackberries and feral animals has a new lease on life. Souther Cross Gold Consolidated who recently purchased a large amount of land adjoining Clonbinane Park have purchased the property and a working to return it to a working farm. Blackberry removal is occurring and removing the feral animals, and fencing the property is the priority then some pasture will most likely be sown down and the land returned to farming use. There is a future again for Clonbinane Park what that holds we will have to wait and see.