Bear's Castle, Fortified house in Yan Yean, Australia

Bear's Castle is a two-storey cob structure of about 12 square metres, built on a stone base with timber planks between the mud and clay layers. Inverted tree forks frame the windows and straight trunks support the upper floor. Small turrets stand at the corners, one containing a circular stair, and the walls are now covered in galvanised roofing.

Bear's Castle was built around 1846 for the pastoralist John Bear by Hannaford and Edwards, two recent arrivals from Devon, England, where cob was a common building technique. According to the 1975 History of Whittlesea Shire, Bear answered his employees' question about what work to do with "Build me a castle". From about 1865 it housed Thomas Bear's farm manager, James Duffy, and his wife while their house was built. Around 1900 the parapets and a castellated tower were removed; the castle joined the Victorian Heritage Register in 1998.

The building shows English construction methods adapted to Australian conditions using local earth, clay, and timber. The way it was built reflects how settlers from abroad brought their home traditions to a new land.

Access is mainly through guided tours organized by the Whittlesea Historical Society, which happen about once per year. Visitors should check ahead and register early since spots are limited.

The second floor of this small fortress lacks flooring and is now just an open frame. During the 1970s, walls were reinforced with chicken wire and mud to stabilize the deteriorating structure.