One of my favourite TV shows is Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries screening on ABC TV; so, when the Phryne Fisher exhibition was announced at Ripplonlea, we had to go! Set in Melbourne in the 1920s, the series is based on the novels by Kerry Greenwood. On display are costumes from Season 3 of Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries at Ripponlea Estate, the home of Aunt Pru in the series.

Ripponlea Estate

Sitting on extensive gardens, Ripponlea is a beautiful, intact, Italianate mansion constructed in 1870. The gardens are still there thanks to the last owner (Louisa Jones) and the National Trus. Both fought a compulsory acquisition order from the ABC in the 1960s and ’70s. The ABC wanted four acres of their gardens to allow them to extend the ABC studios. Thankfully the ABC lost and settled with just .8 of an acre. Upon Louisa’s death, Ripponlea was bequeathed to the national trust.

Costumes of Season Three

The costumes featured are designed by Marion Boyce, and they are fabulous. they are full of period detail and made from the most fantastic fabrics. The exhibition spills across rooms, downstairs and upstairs, with rooms set up depicting episodes and costumes from season 3.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Wardlow Tearooms, complete with fine china. Then we walked around the gardens, past the tennis courts, the ornamental lake, and through the massive fernery.

Season 3 of Phryne has now finished. Fingers crossed, we get a season 4. The exhibition was fabulous and runs until September this year; well worth a visit.