_Property of the week: Late 19th century pastoral homestead, the Baroona Estate
The significance of Baroona is that it is an example of a remarkably intact pastoral estate, associated with the Dangar family, inclusive of features dating to the 1870s. It provides evidence of the ways in which a major pastoral property functioned as a working stud farm, grazing estate and homestead of the late 19th century, as well as the social tastes and customs of a prominent pastoral family during that era. Below we have an historical extract from 'The Baroona Estate. The Property of Mr. A.A. Dangar':
The original 'Baroona' house, at Whittingham, near Singleton, New South Wales, known as 'Rosemount', while in the hands of the Larnach family, was built by John Larnach in the early thirties on part of the Castle Forbes grant of 4,000 acres, then held by James Mudie, one of whose daughters (Emily) Mr Larnach married, and no doubt when he settled down, acquired a portion of the grant from his father-in-law and built the original house, a photo of which, as it existed in the sixties, still hangs at Baroona.
Image: The Baroona Estate, front facade
Mr Dangar acquired the property in 1869 from Mrs J. Larnach, on his and Mrs Dangar's return from a three year's trip to England, where the former in 1868 met with a bad accident in the hunting field which lamed him for life, and caused much trouble in later years. The house was in a very dilapidated state when bought, hardly habitable; thus he was compelled to renovate and build, which he did with the aid of the late Benjamin Backhouse, architect, who carried out the work very successfully, making the nucleus of a comfortable home, which the place now is. The square of the old main building, with its 18 inch walls, was retained, and it has since been practically built all round, with two new wings, and from time to time from 1871, when the renovated house was first occupied and named 'Baroona' (from Geoffrey Hamlyn), many other additions and improvements have been made.
Image: The Baroona Estate, dining room
The site is almost a unique one, overlooking the Great Northern-road and railway, and commanding an extensive view of the Hunter Valley, and mountains beyond, with 'Neotsfield', the old home of the Dangar's about two miles away right in front, not far from the river.
Image: The Baroona Estate, swimming pool
Nearly the whole of the rich flats when first occupied were covered with heavy gum timber (Mr Dangar remembers seeing this), which, curiously enough died of its own accord, before sapping was thought of, and was then burnt off by the different owners, improving the appearance of the country and adding much it its value. This, as time went on, has been much enhanced at 'Baroona' by the planting of deciduous and other trees, notably the avenue, with its double line of elms and pines, backed up by Oleanders, and the tennis courts, surrounded by a pepper-tree hedge and shrubberies on the top of the hill at the back of the house, where long year ago stood the Larnach windmill, a great landmark in the old days (it is said that the Larnach's lived by it for years), well remembered, no doubt, by the old residents, and those who passed up and down the Great Northern-road, before the advent of steam flour mills and the railway. The mill was unworkable in 1869, and was struck by lightning soon after, that was thought a sufficient hint to take it down. A pavilion dividing the two tennis courts now stands in its place.
Image: The Baroona Estate, stables
The house stables at 'Baroona', designed by Mr H. Hunt, and built in 1886, are rather a feature of the place, the plan being an admirable one for the health and comfort of the men and horses, and convenience of working. This timelessly Gothic style block was birth, training and eventual resting place of the legendary dual Melbourne Cup winning horse, Peter Pan.
Image: The Baroona Estate, building rear
A place where a king has slept, a champion was born, and where one of the finest pastoral homesteads in the land has over almost two centuries remained beautifully, mercifully, intact.
To find out more about the history of 'Baroona' and arrange a viewing please contact Deborah Cullen:
+61 401 849 955