Bramleigh Estate
Has a long history of support for local community connections.
Bramleigh Estate’s contribution extends beyond hosting. The venue, food and staff support were generously donated free of charge, reducing major event costs and helping each fundraising effort direct more money toward the people, services and organisations.
Bramleigh Estate has a long history of supporting the local community, creating meaningful community connections and opening its doors to causes that make a genuine difference across Maroondah, Warrandyte, Manningham and the surrounding region.
Creating community connections with local leadership.
Led by Director Mary-Anne, Bramleigh Estate continues to use its beautiful event spaces, hospitality experience and local relationships to help bring people together for fundraising, awareness and support. This commitment forms an important part of Bramleigh Estate’s Maroondah Business Excellence story, recognising not only business achievement, but the positive impact a local business can have when it chooses to give back.
Having served as a councillor for Maroondah City Council from 2014 to 2016, Mary-Anne developed deep connections with local initiatives, residents, businesses and community groups. That understanding continues to influence Bramleigh Estate’s approach today: Welcoming people, supporting local organisations and helping important causes gather momentum.
From hosting fundraising luncheons and gala balls to supporting emergency relief drives and volunteer events, Mary-Anne and the Bramleigh Estate team continue to show how a venue can be more than a place to celebrate. It can also be a platform for generosity, connection and community impact.
Pink Ladies -Hearts of Warrandyte
Bramleigh Estate is honoured to partner with the Warrandyte Pink Ladies, a passionate local group of volunteers, advocates and fundraisers raising awareness and support for people affected by breast cancer.
Together, Bramleigh Estate and the Warrandyte Pink Ladies have presented Hearts of Warrandyte, a pink-powered fundraising lunch created in support of the McGrath Foundation. With every ticket sale contributing to the cause, the event brings people together for a three-course lunch, beer and wine, auctions, prizes, raffles and an afternoon filled with generosity and heart.
The Warrandyte Pink Ladies have raised more than $100,000 across the past four years and are recognised for their community leadership, advocacy work and ability to turn local fundraising into something vibrant, inclusive and unforgettable.
2026 Hearts of Warrandyte is SOLD OUT and expecting to raise over $50 000
Thunderball – Manningham SES
Bramleigh Estate is proud to support Thunderball, the next chapter in a much-loved local fundraising legacy that began as Fireball. For more than a decade, Fireball raised funds for local CFA brigades, helping volunteers access the equipment they need to protect and serve the community.
In 2025, the baton was passed to Thunderball, a gala event created to support Manningham SES and help fund vital emergency response equipment. Held at Bramleigh Estate in August 2025, Thunderball raised $70,000, bringing together local sponsors, volunteers, emergency service supporters and community members for a night of purpose, generosity and connection.
Thunderball reflects the heart of Bramleigh Estate’s community connections: using celebration to create meaningful impact. With music, dining, dancing, auctions and local support, the event gives back to the people who respond when the community needs them most.
Jelena Dokic – International Womans Day
Jelena Dokic received a well deserved standing ovation at Doncare’s International Womens Day Charity luncheon at Bramleigh Estate. The energy in the room was palpable as the audience cheered and praised Jelena for her courage, dignity, determination and grace. Over 250 people gathered together at Bramleigh Estate- Warrandyte to hear Jelena’s story where she inspired us with a powerful and inspiring message.
Supporting Doncare and Emergency Relief
Bramleigh Estate is proud to have supported Doncare’s fundraising and community support programs over many years. Doncare provides assistance for people living in Manningham and surrounding communities, helping improve the quality of life for individuals and families facing difficult circumstances.
Through events such as Empowered Women, Empowering Women and National Volunteer Week luncheons, Bramleigh Estate has hosted hundreds of guests completely free of charge, creating a welcoming place for volunteers, supporters and community leaders to gather.
Shades of Pink
Established in 2017 by a group of dedicated and business-savvy mothers, Shades of Pink was created to support Eastern Health’s new Breast and Cancer Centre, which was officially opened in May 2018 at Maroondah Hospital.
Dedicated to supporting women with breast cancer, a cause close to their hearts, the dynamic foursome decided to host a ladies lunch tailored to engage the local community, creating community connections.
In August 2017 over 150 women came together at Bramleigh Receptions, Croydon for a luxurious luncheon. Styled in seasonal blooms, pink hues and MCed by Channel 7’s Jacqui Felgate, guests enjoyed a three course lunch and bubbles while mingling amongst one another.
The first event was a huge success raising over $30,000, which was donated to fund the Oncology Allied Health Clinic located at Maroondah Hospital’s new Breast and Cancer Centre.
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In 2018, for their second event the group vowed to rally the community in support of new 3D mammogram equipment.
The second luncheon, again hosted by Bramleigh Estate, raised an amazing $117,000 to help women being screened and treated for breast cancer.
Shades of Pink is now one of the most highly anticipated social events on the calendar and relies heavily on the local community and organisations such as Bramleigh Estate to make an impact.
It also creates a platform that allows women to come together to connect and share their stories.
“Breast cancer could affect any one of our Shades of Pink guests or their loved ones. It’s a powerful motivator to make a difference.”
– Sarah Allan, Shades Of Pink Co-Founder
Fireball
Fireball celebrates the efforts of CFA volunteers with a night of fine wine and delicious beverages, gourmet food, live music, surprise performances, the famous champagne bar, prizes as well as some exciting auctions.
Bramleigh Estate had planned to host the 2020 Fireball but due to COVID the event has been rescheduled to Saturday 29 July 2023 and will cater for over 300 local guests completely free of charge.
In 2023 Fireball aims to raise enough funds to purchase a light tanker for Wonga Park brigade, a member of the Greater Warrandyte CFA brigades.
“It feels even more important now to be able to take some of the load off the local small businesses who are still recovering from the last few years, by supporting Fireball in this way,” – Mary-Anne Lowe.
Links
https://warrandytediary.com.au/have-a-ball-and-support-the-cfa/
Coats for Kids
As part of Bramleigh Estate’s ongoing charity initiatives, the venue was proud to support the Coats for Kids program, helping collect warm winter jackets and clothing for children and families in need. This local initiative reflected the power of community giving, with Bramleigh Estate providing a welcoming collection point and helping encourage support across Warrandyte and the surrounding area.
Through initiatives like Coats for Kids, Bramleigh Estate continues to play an active role in bringing people together for causes that make a real difference. By supporting practical community care programs, the estate helps ensure local families facing hardship receive warmth, dignity and essential support during the colder months.
Doncare
Since its inception in 1969, Doncare – Doncaster Community Care and Counselling Centre Inc. – has provided support to enhance the quality of community connections and of the life of people living in Manningham and surrounding communities.
Bramleigh Estate is proud to have supported Doncare’s fundraising efforts over many years by hosting large events such as Empowered Women, Empowering Women and National Volunteer Week luncheons for hundreds of guests completely free of charge.
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Mary-Anne has also made use of her well-known standing in the local community by encouraging community connections with members and businesses to pitch in and donate many car loads of essential food items to Doncare’s much needed Emergency Relief programs.
“I like to support community connections and the move to Manningham motivated me to explore organisations that make a significant impact. It was wonderful to discover a local community group that provides such a diverse range of programs in so many sectors of our local area.” – Mary-Anne Lowe
Links
https://doncare.org.au/news/bramleigh-estate-makes-magic-happen-for-vulnerable-families
Unforgettable Celebrations
What Our Guests Say About Bramleigh Estate
