About Helen

During the process of inspecting the property now known as Helen’s Hill Estate (1996), the former owner, John Frazer, told us the history of the property and why he had bought it back in the early 1950’s...

 

It turns out that back in the 1950’s John was a businessman working in
Collins Street and happened to meet a young lady by the name of Helen.
Things progressed, the couple started courting and John plucked up
the courage to ask Helen for her hand in marriage. Helen agreed, but
on one condition; John had to buy a farm as Helen had, from a very
young age, longed for a life on the land. Following his heart, John
bought land in the Yarra Valley and the couple started a family and life on
the farm. Tragically, Helen was diagnosed with cancer and passed
away leaving John and 2 very young children to carry on.

 

Some 40 years later throughout our tour of the property John recalled a number of the many “incidents” that seem to happen when you live on the land; “this is where Helen bogged the tractor” and “this is where Helen got put up the tree by the bull” and “this is where Helen planted our first apple tree” and “this is where Helen…..

 

At the completion of the inspection when we were standing atop of the highest hill enjoying the magnificent views of the Yarra Valley John recalled that in her last weeks Helen would love nothing more than to sit on this hill and look out at the sweeping farm land. He said “this was Helen’s hill..."