In August 2006, Rippon Lea became the 33rd site to be included on the prestigious National Heritage List. The listing was announced by the then Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell.

Rippon Lea is important as a surviving example of a large intact late nineteenth century private suburban estate consisting of an urban mansion, large garden and outbuildings.

The house is an outstanding example of the Victorian Italianate style, which was a popular expression in Victoria's gold boom period. Rippon Lea is one of the finest polychrome buildings in Victoria and established a fashion.

The extensive garden, originally in the Gardenesque style by the owner Sargood was later redeveloped by him in a more naturalistic style. The estate is intact and has not been significantly reduced by subdivision. The watering system at Rippon Lea is one of the earliest, most complex and relatively intact examples of nineteenth century underground engineering works found in Australia to maintain a private garden.

Rippon Lea has a strong association with the National Trust community which has undertaken major conservation works and re-established historic cultivars in the garden. It is important for its association with the Melbourne community and has been publicly accessible for over 30 years. It has been selected as a setting for films and documentaries because of the high degree of integrity of the historic buildings and garden

The National Heritage List records the natural, Indigenous and historic places with outstanding heritage value to our nation.

The Australian Heritage Council assesses places against a number of criteria for inclusion in the List. Once listed, places are protected as a matter of national environmental significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Rippon Lea joins other important places in the List, such as the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, the Port Arthur convict site in Tasmania and Kurnell Peninsula in Botany Bay where Captain Cook first landed on Australian soil.

Read more about Rippon Lea's place details.