Iandra Station or Mt. Oriel Homestead, Greenethorpe NSW
870 Iandra Road, Greenethorpe NSW 2809.A unique Edwardian estate located in country NSW. Phone: 02 6383 9241 Mobile: 0429 455 409; email: info@iandracastle.com.au
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| Iandra Station or Mt. Oriel Homestead |
Iandra Station and Mount Oriel Homestead, known as Iandra Castle, was established by George Henry Greene from 1878-1911 and is a rare example of a complete ‘English Manor’ style estate.
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| In 1908 Greene commenced the conversion of this single storey brick house to a two-storey reinforced concrete building |
- The nearby village of Greenethorpe was built by Greene for his tenant farmers.
- The house is situated 30 minutes drive from Cowra and is open to the public on certain days of the year or for coach parties by appointment.
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| Iandra Castle, near Grenfell NSW |
The Iandra Homestead Pastoral Estate, originally established by George Henry Greene from 1878-1911, is of outstanding significance as arguably the largest and most progressive wheat property and wheat farming enterprise of its time in Australia.
- The vast estate of approximately 3,000 acres (1215 ha) comprises a magnificent Federation homestead, park-like gardens, original workers cottages, managers residence, blacksmith, chapel and cemetery, wool and hay sheds, silo, other outbuildings, associated structures, and surrounding farmland.
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| Built between 1908 and 1910 in the Federation Romanesque style by the pioneering engineer Edward Giles Stone, Iandra is a significant Australian example of early reinforced concrete construction. |
It was at Iandra that its owner, George Henry Greene, pioneered share-farming in 1892, which revolutionised the approach to wheat growing in Australia.
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| Iandra Station or Mt.Oriel Homestead |
- Iandra was also at the forefront of wheat growing technology in the nation.
- The Iandra enterprise produced the largest yield of wheat at the time from a single property soon after the turn of the century.
- The harvest of this yield saw a concentration of labour forces of 500-600 men, a scale not previously witnessed in rural NSW.
- In its scale, grandeur, planning, farmlands, gardens and collection of purpose-related buildings, the vast pastoral estate of Iandra provides valuable and rare evidence of the advancements, operation, prosperity and importance of wheat growing in Australia's development during the early 1900s.
The estate is closely associated with the life, empire and enterprises of George Henry Greene, a prominent and leading figure in rural affairs in Australia and NSW during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- Greene served three terms as the MP for Grenfell, then as a Member of the Legislative Council.
- He also obtained the rail link for Grenfell. Greene died in 1911 and was buried at Iandra.
- Biography; Obituary
George Henry Greene (1838-1911),pastoralist, wheat-grower and politician, was born on 20 July 1838 at Collon, Louth, Ireland, fifth son of Lieutenant William Pomeroy Greene, R.N., and his wife Anne, née Griffith.
Greene acquired pastoral experience in southern New South Wales on Billabong station, in which he held a share, and later was part-owner of Tooma and Marogle stations.
On his return to New South Wales Greene bought Iandra, a 32,600 acre (13,193 ha) estate near Grenfell, in 1878 and began grazing and wheat-growing.
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NSW Parliamentary Service | Length of Position |
|---|---|
| Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly | 04 Feb 1889 to 08 Jul 1898 |
| Member of the NSW Legislative Council | 11 Apr 1899 to 22 Dec 1911 Life Appointment under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 8 April 1899. |
| Member for Grenfell | 04 Feb 1889 to 06 Jun 1891 |
| Member for Grenfell | 17 Jul 1894 to 24 Oct 1894 |
| Member for Grenfell | 24 Jul 1895 to 08 Jul 1898 |
Community Activity Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace in 1867.Commissioner of the Chicago Exposition in 1893; Chairman of the Pastures and Stock Board for the Young district for several years;prominent in the Pastoralists' Association; and was a member of the Union Club. Qualifications, occupations and interests Pastoralist and agriculturalist. Arrived in Melbourne in 1842. Father established Woodlands estate near Melbourne. Educated privately until 12, when sent to Mr Trollopes School, Collingwood.
Personal Son of William Pomeroy, farmer and retired naval officer and Anne Griffith.Married Ellen Elizabeth Crawford in 1870 and had 3 daughters and 2 sons. Church of England. Date of Birth: 20/07/1838 - Place of Birth: Collon, County Louth, Ireland Date of Death: 22/12/1911 - Place of Death: Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia |  |
- All elements of the estate date from the Federation period and were constructed for the Iandra homestead owner, centred around the Iandra homestead and wheat production, including the adjoining Greenethorpe village built by Greene for his tenants.
- The integrity and condition of the complex as a whole is exceptionally high, which can be largely attributed to its faithful restoration by David Morris from the 1970s.
- The manor house itself is a landmark and remarkable example of the Federation Romanesque style illustrating the work of English architects in Australia and, together with other buildings on the estate, is an exceptional example of early reinforced concrete construction.
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| Iandra Castle |
Iandra also remains one of few tangible places that embody the iconic, optimistic image of Australia as "the lucky country",
- which can still be appreciated in the surviving, grand, Edwardian estate,
- where a European immigrant bought undeveloped land in the middle of rural NSW,
- created his own replica European empire and made himself "Lord of the Manor" out of little except his own ambition, vision, enterprise, determination and the riches of the land.
| From Wikipedia: | ||||||
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| The dwelling along with the surrounding stables, church and residences were listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2005.[1] Built between 1908 and 1910 in the Federation Romanesque style by the pioneering engineer Edward Giles Stone, Iandra is a significant Australian example of early reinforced concrete construction. The homestead, with the surrounding agricultural property is a rare example in Australia of the manorial system, "the likes of which may not exist elsewhere in the state or nation".[1]
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