Gidleigh Station, Bungendore, NSW, Australia

Gidleigh Station at Bungendore NSW is one of the finest examples of a large-scale historic agricultural and homestead complex of 5103 acres owned by the same family for 150 years. Gidleigh Station is about 7.5km from the historic village of Bungendore and 45km from the nation’s capital Canberra. The homestead complex is situated in a wonderful picturesque sheltered valley with timbered slopes and its own micro climate ranging in elevation from 700 to 1,000 metres above sea level.

Property History

The history of Gidleigh Station dates back to 1834 and follows the early colonial history of NSW as a highly productive agricultural enterprise running Merino sheep. It is one of the most important colonial homesteads in Australia and features in Historic Homesteads of Australia, published by the Council of National Trusts in 1982.

The property was first taken up by Admiral Phillip Parker King who was the son of Governor, Philip Gidleigh King. The earliest buildings are the convict built 1830’s stables and 1840’s homestead complex. Legendary bush ranger Jackey Jackey (William Westwood 1820-1846) was assigned to Gidleigh Station and worked on the stables from where he made his first escape.

Architectural Features

Designed by distinguished English born colonial architect William Wardell the large and spacious colonial homestead was built in 1882 of locally sourced and quarried stone over several stages. The additional later two storied front wing was built after the First World War and comprises a ballroom, billiard room and staff quarters and blends in sympathetically with the original homestead.

At a later stage, the front entry was redesigned by prominent colonial architect John S Mansfield and incorporates beautiful  Australian red-cedar joinery and hardwood flooring with cedar and marble fireplaces. Today, the homestead comprises of a formal sitting room and dining room, drawing room, library, conservatory, garden room, sun room, bar room, two studies, cloakroom and a large provincial style kitchen.  Other features include wide access hallways, 14 foot (4.3m) high ceilings, beautiful open verandahs and courtyards.

Special Comments from Chris Wilmar, Architect

The two magnificent Golden Elms on the front lawn were planted by the King family in the 1830’s. The gardens today, were originally developed and laid out by William Rutledge’s wife, Jean, in the 1880’s. Besides being a keen gardener and a collector of roses, she was the author of the Goulburn Cookery Book.  Since 1882 the mainstay of Gidleigh Station has always been Merino sheep. Current stocking allocation is a percentage of beef cattle and Merino sheep renowned for their fine high quality wool. Hense, the property has always been productively managed to sustain an average winter carrying capacity of approximately 10,300 DSE (dry sheep equivalent) Merino sheep and an excellent herd of Angus breeding cattle and cropping are currently the mainstay at Gidleigh Station.

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