Orielton Homestead at Harrington Grove for sale after restoration
Tucked away on an expansive property in Macarthur is a breathtaking mansion now restored to its former glory. Take a look through the homestead. WATCH THE VIDEO
Macarthur
Don't miss out on the headlines from Macarthur. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A historic mansion in Macarthur that was lovingly restored to its former glory in a decade-long process is on sale for the first time in 75 years.
The Orielton Homestead, the original part of which is almost 200 years old, most recently belonged to Sir Warwick Fairfax and Lady Mary Fairfax, where it formed part of their estate.
Harrington Estates undertook a 10-year restoration project to return the almost derelict house to a restored mansion befitting its history.
Managing director Terry Goldacre, who was one of the driving forces behind the project, said Scottish miller and grazier John Dickson built the Orielton Homestead in about 1830.
Mr Goldacre said the Fairfax family bought Orielton and the property around it in the 1940s, but did not live in the homestead.
“Harrington Park has been developed into residential development over the past 25 years, and Orielton is one of the two homesteads on the property,” he said.
“Both are very historic and both are heritage-listed and both are important colonial properties.
“For Orielton, in the past 20 years it has not really been used and it was deteriorating and had become very rundown.”
Mr Goldacre said the history of the homestead was fascinating and all began in the 1800s, when Mr Dickson built the first four-room dwelling as an outstation for his farm manager.
The Perry family then turned the small farming outstation into a family home with an additional eight rooms in the 1850s and 60s.
Wealthy widow Harriet Beard undertook the most influential building works, with the help of her son and grandson, in the 1880s when she turned it into a grand 26-room mansion.
The homestead was last lived in during the Second World War when officers from the American army used it as their barracks.
Then, about 10 years ago, a passionate group of individuals embarked on the journey of restoring it through a lengthy and comprehensive process.
Harrington Estates worked closely with the NSW Heritage Office, Camden Council, Sydney Restoration Company and Tropman & Tropman Architects, which specialises in restoring heritage buildings.
Mr Goldacre said it was “magnificent” to watch the impressive home be transformed from a derelict property to a grand mansion again.
He said an important part of the process was understanding its history, who had lived in it, and how the property was used.
Mr Goldacre said this allowed them to ensure that the restoration was true to the time period and the character of the homestead.
“A lot of the internal fixtures had been destroyed or stolen, like the skirting boards as an example,” he said.
“But we found remnants of the original skirting boards which are very large and ornate so we remade all the skirting boards using that as an example. So while it’s new, it’s in the original style.
“We went to a lot of effort to restore it thoroughly and make sure it is true to the period.”
Mr Goldacre said the extensive catalogue of photographic material was an excellent reference to use for the finer details of the restoration.
“A highly skilled team was assembled to recapture the home’s historical sentiment and the work was meticulously undertaken using joinery techniques used over 100 years ago,” he said.
“The home has a very rich history to it. The restoration has been completed and the development around it has been completed so we are offering it up for sale.”
Located on about 6.5 hectares on the Northern Road, Harrington Estates has listed the historic Orielton Homestead for sale on behalf of the Fairfax family.
“We understand that even a historic home needs to function as a modern home, so we also factored this into the restoration,” he said.
“The historic features were extremely important but ultimately Orielton is a six-bedroom, two-bathroom family home.
“With sweeping views of the surrounding countryside and historic mansion, Orielton has so much potential.”
In keeping with a historic house of its stature, the first floor features numerous living spaces including a spacious drawing room, dining room, music room, library, and sitting room with feature bay windows.
The homestead has two separate wings, each housing majestic bedrooms with sweeping vistas of the surrounding countryside, and includes a large billiard room, dairy room, storeroom, lower kitchen, cellar, and two lower bedrooms.
The homestead holds an elevated position overlooking the Macarthur region and is surrounded by sprawling gardens that retain plants and garden layouts associated with their early arrangement.
The formal garden for the homestead, with its main plantings of Bunya and Norfolk Island pines, provides a distinctive backdrop for the homestead and was also restored.
The NSW Government has deemed Orielton Homestead and its estate as having State significance.
On the Heritage Register, it is described as retaining ‘its historical local prominence and serves as an important local landmark’.
Harrington Estates is inviting expressions of interest for the sale of Harrington Park Homestead.
Join the conversation
‘Physical, combative’: What selectors looking for at Waratahs U15 trials
A desire to be “physical and combative’ are just two traits NSW Waratahs selectors are keen to see as 125 of NSW’s best junior talent hunt for spots in their U15’s squad this weekend.
Read more
Old rugby rivalry to ignite in new Subbies battle
NSW Suburban Rugby Colts will take on County Colts on Saturday in a first as organisers look to expand the concept into a gala day of Subbies rugby in 2025. TEAM LISTS
Read more