Lake House began operating in 1984. Hand built by artist and builder, the late Allan Wolf-Tasker and his chef and dreamer wife, Alla Wolf-Tasker AM, it was simple in its original mission. A 40-seat weekend only restaurant that might emulate Alla’s experiences of top end French regional hospitality in the 70’s.

Fine cooking, local produce, seasonality, great service.
A restaurant worthy of a journey in itself, not just a detour.

The block of land had been purchased in 1979. An otherwise bare, blackberry infested paddock on the swampy end of lake Daylesford. It took 4 years of building and landscaping on weekends to create the first incarnation of our house on the lake.

Once open, reality hit hard. It was the early 80’s in Australia and people didn’t journey to the countryside for any sort of special culinary experiences. Daylesford was certainly not on any gourmet traveller’s radar.

Quality regional produce was pretty much non-existent. No local fromagiers, bakers, specialty growers or general small-scale farmers. Large scale industrial agriculture was the norm right across regional Australia.

Today, daughter Larissa Wolf-Tasker, son in law Robin Wilson, with a team of career professionals from all over the globe, oversee Lake House.

With 33 studios and suites on the shores of lake Daylesford, a founding member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, it sits amongst 6 acres of country style gardens, a legacy of those early days of planting by Alla and often her mother Katherine. There are beautiful waterfront terraces, an infinity pool that looks through the silver birches to the still wild, yet much more “kempt” lake Daylesford beyond, a tennis court, library, event spaces and significant Spa.

But all are still adjuncts to the Restaurant which remains the beating heart of the place and through it’s many incarnations over the years has remained true to it’s original mission and values and to its own version of fine dining “with the top button undone”.

A commitment to hospitality, knowledge, skill, quality produce, integrity in delivery and purpose behind the passion. Warm relaxed hospitality without the need for a jacket and tie. Never any sense of worshiping at a “Temple of Gastronomy”. And always at the end of the day, only one thing matters, it has to be delicious – the food and the total experience (OR and the whole damned thing).

These days the dining room looks through the lines of Robinia, Poplar, Pin Oak, Catalpa and Weeping Mulberry to the lake shores. Rows of umbrellas shade guests as they lounge in the sunshine. Inside, Allan’s beautiful paintings of the Australian landscape help to confirm the sense of place for a dining room that has again just recently been renovated.  It’s a restaurant full of memories of long lunches, special occasions, weddings… break ups, make ups, famous faces and lots and lots of return guests. If only the walls could talk…

40 years on, whilst Lake House certainly looks much different to what it was in those early years, our guests continue to remark on the connection and inspiration they feel here. Despite those early and very humble beginnings Alla and Allan’s hopes continued to be fulfilled and the legacy lives on.

At a time when good hospitality matters more than ever, we at Lake House are united with a sense that through good food and travel, we can build and encourage community and hold space for history whilst looking forward to our future. We’d like to think you agree with us, that good food matters and that good hospitality is worth investing in.