Former MP Tim Holding weds his long-time partner in stunning ceremony at their multimillion-dollar French chateau - after asking for donations to restore the property
The former MP, who was a Victorian Labor minister in the Steve Bracks and John Brumby governments, tied the knot with his fiancée on 21 June at their magnificent Château de Purnon.
The couple said 'I do' in the chapel of their 237-year-old Louis XVI-style chateau, which they bought for $1.19 million in 2020 and have been restoring over the last few years.
The 105-room castle is near the French village of Verrue, which has just 400 residents and is located three and a half hours outside Paris.
Taking to social media, Felicity shared a glimpse into their intimate wedding ceremony and their stunning French DIY project.
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'In Purnon's sublime chapel, surrounded by family and friends, we took the next step in our journey together,' she said.
In her vows, Felicity gushed over the 15 years spent with the former MP, revealing that she is 'happiest' when she's with her now-husband.
'For 15 years you've been by my side, you're my calm, my joy, my pride. We've roamed the world, just me and you. I've climbed many a mountain following you.
'It's where I'm my happiest, when we're side-by-side, together forever on this wild ride. So today I promise you all my heart, you've always had it right from the start.'
Another clip posted by Felicity to Instagram showed the couple restoring the chapel for their big day, which required a lot of cleaning and fixing in the run-up.
In 2023, Tim asked the public to donate to the huge restoration project and labour of love that he took on with his fiancée at the time.
As well as the main 18th-century Louis XVI-style chateau, there are two main buildings, a dried out moat, cottages, stables, a wine barrel room, a chapel, a boulangerie and an orangerie.
Tim was a Victorian MP from 1999 to 2013, and a year after he resigned, he set off for France.
He and Felicity have been regularly documenting their progress on the chateau, with Tim even returning to Melbourne to celebrate the launch of Les Amis de Purnon (Friends of Purnon), a not-for-profit association to support the restoration of Château de Purnon.
At the time, tickets were reported to have cost $150 a head.
The request for donations attracted criticism from The Australian's Margin Call editor Yoni Bashan, who referred to the restoration as a 'self-enriching vanity project'.
'The people are already paying for this guy to yuk it up in the French countryside. Now, in the ultimate act of p***-taking, he's asking punters to help him pay for it. C'est incroyable! (It's incredible),' the column - written in a response to a piece by The Herald Sun - read.
The column also stated that Tim would have left parliament with a pension of around $150,000, while his fiancée is an heiress to the Selkirk Bricks company.
The couple first came across the chateau in 2019, and they now live in a small wing of the property that has heating and a bath.
The pair had looked at 15 other chateaus before they settled on Purnon, which on the donation website, is described as being in a state of 'serious peril'.
'Dating back more than a century, the slate roof of the castle is out of use, threatening the conservation of the framework which covers the two upper floors of the house and that of the floors,' the website read.
'A little-known treasure, the castle requires energetic and urgent action to save it from ruin and preserve its authenticity.'
Tim and Felicity are hoping the castle may be used for weddings, exhibitions, concerts and guided tours once the restoration is complete.
The castle and parts of its surroundings have also been listed as Historic Monuments, meaning French authorities have to approve any work being carried out.
The couple, along with their passion project, have featured in television shows and magazines such as Good Weekend throughout its restoration.
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Daily Mail
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The Independent
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The Guardian
an hour ago
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