Iandra (colloquially known as Iandra Castle) is a large

heritage-listed This list is of heritage registers, inventories of cultural properties, natural and man-made, tangible and intangible, movable and immovable, that are deemed to be of sufficient heritage value to be separately identified and recorded. In many ...

homestead south of

Greenethorpe Greenethorpe is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The town is located in the Weddin Shire local government area, west of the state capital, Sydney. At the , Greenethorpe and the surrounding area had a population ...

, in the

Weddin Shire Weddin Shire is a local government area in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The shire's major town is Grenfell and it also includes the small towns of Caragabal, Greenethorpe and Quandialla. The mayor of Weddin Shire Cou ...

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 February 2005. The homestead is a former

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

Boys' home and working farmland. It was designed by an unnamed

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

architect, built by

Edward Giles Stone Edward Giles Stone (17 February 1876 – 16 October 1947) was an Australian engineer prominent in many innovative, often daringly spectacular, aspects of early reinforced concrete constructions in Australia. He was also involved in cement manufac ...

, in association with Ellen Greene, the owner's wife, and was built between 1880 and 1910. The homestead is also known as The Castle and Mount Oriel homestead. Greenethorpe is surrounded by the towns of Young ( to the south), Grenfell ( to the northwest) and Cowra ( to the northeast).

History

The land on which Iandra stands was first taken up for pastoral purposes in 1833 by John Wood as part of his Brundah Station. Later the eastern part of Brundah was acquired by W. R. Watt and subsequently by J. A. Mackinnon. George Greene was born in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

in 1838 and emigrated to the colony from Ireland in 1842 at the age of 4 with his father William Pomeroy Greene and the entire family. His father William chartered a ship to emigrate and brought out family servants such as chauffeur, cook, maids, their families, his personal library, a pre-fabricated house and much more. William Greene's grandfather was in the English diplomatic corps and had served in India. William Greene had been in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

and served on St.Helena where

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

was kept on house arrest. It was here that he had caught a "fever" (probably

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

) and was retired from the Navy. He then acted as agent (effectively estate manager) to Lord Oriel's estate in Ireland. Lord Oriel was the last Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. Greene's doctor recommended that he move to a more warm, amenable climate.Sue Jackson-Stepowski, pers.comm., 26 September 2010 George Greene spent his youth with his family at Woodlands near

Bulla Bulla (Latin, 'bubble') may refer to: Science and medicine * Bulla (dermatology), a bulla * Bulla, a focal lung pneumatosis, an air pocket in the lung * Auditory bulla, a hollow bony structure on the skull enclosing the ear * Ethmoid bulla, pa ...

, north of

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

.Lennon, 2003 After he married Ellen Crawford, the daughter of an Indian Army Officer, he sold his land interest and returned to England. In 1878 George Greene returned to Australia and bought near Grenfell, New South Wales from Mackinnon, which he called Mount Oriel (named after the estate of Lord Oriel in Ireland which his father had been agentfor prior to emigrating to Australia. It was later renamed Iandra.Garden Clubs of Australia, 2008, 23 This vast estate encompassed the majority of the parish which was to derive its name from this estate, that is, the Iandra Parish. In 1880 Greene had a brick dwelling built using bricks made on the property, the original Mount Oriel single storey homestead. This was sited on Portion 49 of the Iandra Parish of . The purchase in 1878 by Greene represented the beginning of a new era for the area and the nation's wheat industry. Iandra became the largest and most progressive wheat property in Australia. Here George Greene pioneered his vast share-farming enterprise in 1892 that revolutionised the approach to wheat growing, whereby he supplied the land and seed and the share farmer provided the labour. By 1911, fifty share farmers had been established on , generally on share farms of each, extending across the Parish of Iandra. The property was also at the forefront of wheat growing technology in Australia. Greene increased production by scientific use of superphosphate fertiliser, rotation between grazing and wheat

fallowing Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area across a sequence of growing seasons. It reduces reliance on one set of nutrients, pest and weed pressure, and the probability of developing resistant ...

. Iandra was used as the first large scale trial of Federation "rust proof" wheat developed by William Jame Farrer, and Greene was the first to grow the wheat commercially. Greene was also one of the first in New South Wales to fully fence his property with rabbit proof netting. An ambitious scheme of land clearing, fencing and building ensued that was so successful that, before the turn of the (20th) century, the homestead and its extensive outbuildings and handsome small

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

stone church became a showpiece which attracted flocks of visitors. Some forty houses were built on the estate for share farmers. Greene as a member of both houses of the

Parliament of New South Wales The Parliament of New South Wales is a bicameral legislature in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), consisting of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (lower house) and the New South Wales Legislative Council (upper house). Eac ...

and through his connections with Lord Northcott,

Governor-General of Australia The governor-general of Australia is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in Australia.Grenfell branch rail line from Koonawatha to the

Grenfell railway station The Grenfell railway station is a heritage-listed closed railway station located on the Koorawatha-Grenfell railway line in Grenfell in the Weddin Shire of New South Wales, Australia. The property was added to the New South Wales State Herita ...

and then to Greenethorpe/Iandra. This allowed ready access and export of grain and of goods, effectively opening up the district's production and potential. This was part of railway engineer J. J. C. Bradfield's program of branch line expansion in New South Wales. Soon after the turn of the century, Iandra had produced the largest ever yield of wheat from a single property of 100,000 bags of wheat. The harvest saw a concentration of labour forces of a scale not previously witnessed in rural New South Wales. Five to six hundred men were engaged in various aspects of the operation. As a social enterprise, share farming at Iandra appears to have benefited workers and management alike. In 1908 Greene began the construction of a village around the Iandra rail siding to house and improve the living conditions of his tenant farmers. This village was named Greenethorpe after its pioneer. Greenethorpe Village was based on the English manor system where a number of tenant farms were based around a single manor, in this instance the Iandra homestead. A church was built here and Greene discouraged but failed to prevent the eventual construction of a

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

in the village. George Henry Greene's son,

William Pomeroy Crawford Greene William Pomeroy Crawford Greene (28 June 1884 – 10 May 1959) was an Australian-born English Conservative Party politician. Early life Greene was born on 28 June 1884 at his parents' home Iandra in Greenethorpe, Weddin Shire, New South Wales ...

registered a coat of arms in 1908 with the Ulster King of Arms in Dublin. This coat of arms had been "borne and used by his family" for some time and can be described as on a blue shield three golden stags inside a gold border. Above the shield emerging from a gold coronet the head of a stag also gold, marked with a green shamrock on the neck. Motto "''Nec timeo nec sperno''" (translation:''"I neither fear nor despise"'').Stephen Michael Szabo, Heraldic Consultant, pers.comm., 14/12/2010 In 1908-1910 Greene constructed the present 57-room two storey homestead, incorporating the original 1880 dwelling (all that appears to remain is one brick wall. It took full advantage of its elevated setting with wide district views. The Federation Romanesque homestead was a large, idiosyncratic castle-like building constructed of reinforced concrete, and became known as The Castle. The new house was designed by an English architect with influence from Greene's wife, Ellen and built by engineer Edward G Stone. Interior panelling was of oak ( Quercus sp.) and the dining room of

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

black walnut (

Castanospermum australe ''Castanospermum australe'' (Moreton Bay chestnut or blackbean), the only species in the genus ''Castanospermum'', is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to the east coast of Australia in Queensland and New South Wales, and to the ...

). A fence was built around the grounds by Greene's son, Captain William C. Greene. At the same time, the manager's residence and stables were also constructed, reportedly to the design of the same architect. A church was also constructed on the property to the south, uphill, during Greene's ownership (in 1886). George Greene, his wife (d.1921), and their two sons were (eventually) all buried in the cemetery here. Greene played a prominent role in rural affairs and was a member of the Young Pastures and Stock Protection Board 1881-84, being its chairman from 1885 to 1888. In 1890 he became a foundation member of the Pastoralists Union of New South Wales. Greene was the Legislative Assembly Member for Grenfell in 1889-91, 1894 and 1895–98, during which time he was able to obtain a rail link to Grenfell. In 1899 he became a Member of the Legislative Council. Greene died in 1911 and was buried at Iandra. When his widow, Ellen Greene returned to England, the property was managed by L. N. I'Anson. By 1911 the estate consisted of 60 sharefarmers on the original . From , the Greene family moved back to England and their empire was broken-up for the first time by George's Cambridge-educated son and in the majority of cases the share farmers were given the option of buying the land they had been farming, generally blocks. In 1927, following the death of Ellen Greene, Iandra and were purchased by the estate manager since 1911, Leonard Nourse I'Anson. I'Anson (1925-1949) first settled at Iandra in 1906, when he discovered the area while resting the wagonette horses at Cowra, when moving from

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

to Victoria. Family accounts report that after riding round the district that night I'Anson said to the others "If this country can grow trees this size, I'm not going any further." This began a 70-year association of multiple generations of the I'Anson family with the Iandra estate over most of the 20th Century. The I'Anson family owned Iandra until 1956, and his grandson, Keith I'Anson (b.1925), continued to own part of the estate until 1976.Keith I'Anson, 2004 The homestead and estate during the ownership of Henry Greene and the I'Anson family played a major role in not only the establishment of the village and community, but in the social life of the community. The property was said to have generally deteriorated after the death of Leonard I'Anson in 1949 when it was managed by his sons who also had other properties to manage. In 1956 the homestead and of the farmland were transferred to the

Methodist Church Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related Christian denomination, denominations of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John W ...

for

A£ The pound (Sign: £, £A for distinction) was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 14 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. As with other £sd currencies, it was subdivided into 20 shillings (denoted by the symbol s ...

10,000 for use as a home for first-time male offenders from the city, as well as a dairy and an intensive poultry programme. A managerial council was formed to oversee administration of the home, comprising Greenethorpe locals from the strong Methodist community and church representatives. 1200 acres of the estate on the eastern side of the road, plus adjoining the homestead including the coachman's house, silo and water tank and several sheds were transferred to Keith I'Anson. As part of the Church's use of the site for a detention home, a s toilet block was constructed at the rear (west) of the main homestead, attached to a brick garden wall.Jackson-Stepowski, 2009, 4 The Methodist Boys Home use continued until 1974. In 1974 and 1976 both parts of the estate were transferred to David Morris of

Rylstone Rylstone is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated very near to Cracoe and about 6 miles south west of Grassington. The population of the civil parish as of the 2011 census was 160. Ryls ...

, a civil engineer and owner of R. S. Morris. At one time it was in a very poor state of repair. The homestead was faithfully restored by David Morris. The widow of Morris continues to live in the house today, and the property continues to operate as a working farm. The estate now comprises approximately of the original Greene estate. The present owners of the property open the homestead on designated weekends throughout the year when it is possible to wander through the beautifully maintained gardens. The owner's wife cares for the garden and despite the severe drought conditions, has created a very picturesque surrounding area to complement the homestead. In spring the garden features clumps of purple iris, daffodils, roses and lemon trees. In 2007-09, two grants were awarded to prepare a conservation management plan for the homestead, and for conservation works to the homestead and gardens, Stallion Shed, Blacksmith's Shop, Hayshed, Accountant's Cottage, Gardener's Cottage and Blade Shearing Shed. In 2009, a new toilet block was erected to the south-west of the homestead, alongside the existing toilet block.

Description

The Iandra estate of approximately comprises land of approximately : *the main homestead; *the stables and electrical generating plant; *manager's residence; *surrounding garden/park setting; *chapel and cemetery; *blacksmith's shop; *hay

shed A shed is typically a simple, single-story roofed structure that is used for hobbies, or as a workshop in a back garden or on an allotment. Sheds vary considerably in their size and complexity of construction, from simple open-sided ones de ...

; *stallion shed; *accountant's cottage; *workers' cottage; *water filter in dam; *water tower and; *woolshed; *surrounding farmland, originally in share-farms.

Farm setting

Approximately comprises land of approximately of cropping and grazing land, within which sits the main dwelling, stables, barns and yards group.

Surrounding garden and parkland

The homestead group (stables, barns, yards, manager's residence, house and garden) sit on a rise with panoramic views of the entire district. Around the complex are shelter belts of pepper(corn) trees ( Schinus molle). The entry gates (iron, curlicued shaped panels) are flanked by white picket fencing. A long gravel drive approaches the house from Iandra Road from the gates at the north-eastern corner of the garden/parkland and ending in a parking area to the house's east. A driveway continues east/south-east of the house to the stables/garage. The main drive is lined with a double avenue of kurrajong (

Brachychiton populneus ''Brachychiton populneus'', commonly known as the kurrajong, is a small to medium-sized tree found naturally in Australia in a diversity of habitats from wetter coastal districts to semi-arid interiors of Victoria, New South Wales and Queenslan ...

) and bottlebrush (

Callistemon ''Callistemon'' is a genus of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1814. The entire genus is endemic to Australia but widely cultivated in many other regions and naturalised in scattered locations. Their status as a se ...

spp.) trees and shrubs. A wide lawn fronts the northern (main/front) facade of the house. A smaller lawn area adjoins to the eastern, southern and western sides. The southern side is also marked by a paved

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary ...

between wings of the house and a rear driveway to the stables /garage block and yards beyond, further south. A side gate further south on Iandra Road connects through an avenue of Persian lilac bushes (see below) to the rear of the house and service yard, stables/garage etc. Another gate further south on Iandra Road leads into the Manager's residence. Another gate further south and uphill on Iandra Road leads to the Chapel and cemetery.Stuart Read, pers.comm. visit, 26/9/10 The oldest remains of the Greene-era garden are the numerous groves of monumentally scaled Moreton Bay fig trees (

Ficus macrophylla ''Ficus macrophylla'', commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig or Australian banyan, is a large evergreen banyan tree of the family Moraceae native to eastern Australia, from the Wide Bay–Burnett region in the north to the Illawarra in New So ...

) east, north and north-east of the house, various mature eucalypt trees (E.spp.), a cactus hedge (

Aloe arborescens ''Aloe arborescens'', the krantz aloe or candelabra aloe, is a species of flowering succulent perennial plant that belongs to the genus ''Aloe'', which it shares with the well known and studied ''Aloe vera''. The specific epithet ''arborescens'' ...

Notocactus ''Parodia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cactaceae, native to the eastern slopes of the Andes in northwestern Argentina and southwestern Bolivia and in the lowland pampas regions of northeastern Argentina, southern Brazil, eastern ...

sp.) running along Iandra Road to the east, an avenue of Persian lilac bushes (

Syringa persica ''Syringa'' is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly ...

cv.) between the house's south-eastern wing and a side gate to Iandra Road and some shrubs near the existing and new toilet block to the house's south-west - running along the line of a former airfield in this area. The present owner opens the homestead on designated weekends and maintain the garden beautifully. The owner cares for the garden and despite the severe drought conditions, has created a very picturesque surrounding area to complement the homestead. In spring the garden features clumps of purple iris, star-of-the veldt (

Dimorphotheca ''Dimorphotheca'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae, native to Africa. is one of eight genera of the Calenduleae, with a centre of diversity in Southern Africa. Some species can hybridize with ''Osteospermum'', and crosses are sold a ...

Osteospermum ''Osteospermum'' , is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Calenduleae, one of the smaller tribes of the sunflower/daisy family Asteraceae. They are known as the daisybushes or African daisies. ''Osteospermum'' used to belong to the genu ...

sp.), daffodils (

Narcissus Narcissus may refer to: Biology * ''Narcissus'' (plant), a genus containing daffodils and others People * Narcissus (mythology), Greek mythological character * Narcissus (wrestler) (2nd century), assassin of the Roman emperor Commodus * Tiberiu ...

cv.s),

rose A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus ''Rosa'' (), in the family Rosaceae (), or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be ...

s (Rosa cv.s) and lemon trees (Citrus x limon)).Botanical names added by Stuart Read, 25 March 2009 A large white cedar (Melia azederach var.australasica) edges the top grassed terrace before (north of) the house. Beds of roses lie between it and the lawn and house. A scattering of pepper(corn) trees lie south-east and east of the house, concentrating into a row along Iandra Road, under which the cactus hedge (see below) is interplanted. An orchard and shrubbery area to the house's south-east separates it from the manager's homestead. This is marked with Canary Island pine trees ('' Pinus canariensis''), pepper(corn) trees ('' Schinus molle'') and other shrubs and trees, including some fruit trees. A fence was built around the grounds by Greene's son, Captain W. C. Greene.

Main dwelling

Iandra homestead is a distinctive and idiosyncratic example of the Federation Romanesque architectural style with Tudor influences, sometimes referred to as "The Castle", reflecting its dramatic design and situation, and its feudal-like role in the history of the area and community. The Manor-like residence was designed by an unknown English architect, and is an exceptional example of reinforced concrete construction. Built in 1908-c 1910, incorporating the earlier 1880 homestead, the manor house has a front wing of reinforced concrete, the external walls being hollow and the internal walls solid (this early use of reinforced concrete is a significant aspect of Iandra's importance). There are fifty-seven rooms and the house cost an estimated A£63,000. It is a two-storey house (plus attic) and the concrete on the exterior has been rendered to resemble

sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...

. At the rear, two storey wings (with half timbering to the

gable A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system used, which reflects climate, material availability, and aesth ...

s) form a courtyard. To each end of the facade are double storey bow windows with multiple small panes, and these bows are surmounted by gables. Part of the works on Iandra were carried out/supervised by one Edward Giles Stone. Construction was completed in 1910. Stone was located at 11 Moore St, Sydney at the time. Edward Stone's father John worked on this project as well. He was located in Challis House, Sydney.John Gibson, pers.comm., 12 December 2010 The ground floor of the facade is arcaded as is the upper floor, although the latter has flat arches and paired columns. In the centre is a

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cult ...

with crenellations, above which (on the first floor) is a

granite Granite () is a coarse-grained (phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies undergro ...

arch. Rising from this is a square tower, which has slit windows. On one corner of the top of this tower is an asymmetrically placed octagonal

turret Turret may refer to: * Turret (architecture), a small tower that projects above the wall of a building * Gun turret, a mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon * Objective turret, an indexable holder of multiple lenses in an optical microscope * Mi ...

which is also crenellated. This forms a major feature of Iandra and is complemented by the numerous, tall, Medieval looking chimneys. On either side of the tower is a dormer. A crenellated

parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/breast'). Whe ...

runs down at least one side of the house. The

hipped roof A hip roof, hip-roof or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope (although a tented roof by definition is a hipped roof with steeply pitched slopes rising to a peak). Thus, ...

is clad with asbestos cement shingles. Copper is apparently the material used for the guttering and ridge capping. On one corner of the house is another tower with a candle snuffer roof. Iandra's interior reflects a number of Federation era or Edwardian characteristics, including large areas of timber wall panelling. The carved stairway and foyer panels are of oak, and the dining room panels are of Queensland black bean (''

''). Art Nouveau stained and leaded glass windows adorn every room. Each window is different and most feature a flower. These are of a very high quality and definitely by a craftsman (as yet unknown). Early telephone and electrical systems were fitted in the house. There are the remnants of the former garden and a number of mature trees. The house is well sited and is a landmark, being visible for quite some distance.

Stables and electrical generating plant

This shares many of the characteristics of the main house. It is built (like the house) of reinforced concrete rendered to resemble sandstone. It consists of four wings forming an open courtyard in the centre. There are prominent gables at the ends of the main facade, and the roof projects beyond the wall at each of the gables and each has a group of three vertical, narrow vents or decorative recesses. Single storey, the building has attic rooms which are the workers' accommodation. Attic walls are lath and plaster. As well as containing stables, the building also has a foaling room, garage, workshops and storerooms. The major feature is the central entranceway in the main facade. The slightly arched entrance at ground level allows access to the inner courtyard, and then above is an upper floor, boldly square in its dimensions; there is a projecting label mould just above the arch of the entrance. On the top of this upper floor is a crenellated parapet and a pyramidal roof. All the roofing is clad with asbestos cement shingles and some

rafter A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members such as wooden beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the wall plate, downslope perimeter or eave, and that are designed to support the roof shingles, roof deck and its associated ...

s are exposed. Fenestration is a mixture of small paned and large paned windows. Chimneys are similar to those on the house in being tall, narrow and rather Medieval in appearance.

Manager's residence

This was designed by the same architect who designed the house and it complements it well. The building is

Federation Queen Anne Federation architecture is the architectural style in Australia that was prevalent from around 1890 to 1915. The name refers to the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, when the Australian colonies collectively became the Commonwealth of Au ...

style and is single storey (with attic rooms) and built of brick. The hipped roof has a number of protruding gables which are, characteristically for the style, half timbered; the roof extends beyond the

ends in each case. There is also a dormer. Clad with asbestos cement shingles the roof continues, in slightly broken back form, out over the generous

veranda A veranda or verandah is a roofed, open-air gallery or porch, attached to the outside of a building. A veranda is often partly enclosed by a railing and frequently extends across the front and sides of the structure. Although the form ''veran ...

hs. As is usual for the style, the fenestration is well scaled and some windows have smaller panes to their upper

sashes Sashes Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Cookham Lock near Cookham, Berkshire. It is now open farmland, but has Roman and Anglo-Saxon connections. The island is located between Hedsor Water and the present navigation chan ...

. Chimneys are tall and narrow.Giovanelli, 2004

Chapel and cemetery

The chapel further south of the homestead and yards (uphill on Iandra Road) is a reminder of the share farming activities on Iandra and the role of wealthy pastoralists in establishing churches in rural areas during the nineteenth century. Built in Gothic style in 1886 of sandstone with brick surrounds to its openings (and typically for a chapel in this style), it has a gabled, steeply pitched roof, clad in corrugated iron. Rising from one end of the roof is a fleche. There is an apse and a projecting entrance

porch A porch (from Old French ''porche'', from Latin ''porticus'' "colonnade", from ''porta'' "passage") is a room or gallery located in front of an entrance of a building. A porch is placed in front of the facade of a building it commands, and form ...

. Windows are pointed arch type, and there is a triple window in the apse wall. The cemetery has several graves, including that of George Greene and, more recently, David Morris, who purchased the property and implemented a major restoration program.

Condition

As at 24 August 2004, the buildings remain in largely original condition. Condition of the various buildings varies but overall condition is good. The castle generally is in very good condition having benefited from many years of concentrated restoration. The main problem is water ingress through the flat roofs on the corner towers, and three chimneys have been demolished. In the stables a section of ceiling is decaying. The electrical generating plant was removed from the building long ago, however parts have since been retrieved and brought back on site. The manager's residence is sound and currently occupied. The garden/park setting is well maintained. The church walls have substantial structural cracks. The cemetery surrounds are maintained. The blacksmiths shop is in good original condition as are the hay shed and stallion shed. The accountant's and workers' cottages are in fair condition only, but are being stabilised. The water filter in the dam is sound, and the water tower is still in use. The woolshed was not assessed. The integrity of the complex is very high, having been faithfully restored since 1974 while continuing to operate as a fully functional farm.

Modifications and dates

*1878: estate purchased by George Greene and established as generally share-farms. *1880: Mt Oriel, a single storey brick home was constructed for Greene on Parish Portion 49 of . *1895-98: Greene obtained a rail link to Grenfell *1908: Greene began the construction of a village at Iandra rail siding *1908-1910: The Castle constructed, incorporating the 1880 building. Manager's residence and stables constructed. *1911: 50 share farmers had been established on , generally on share farms of each. *1911: 60 share farmers on the original . *From : the Greene empire was broken-up for the first time and in the majority of cases the share farmers were given the option of buying the land they had been farming, generally blocks. *1927: Iandra and purchased by estate manager I'Anson *1956: homestead and transferred to the Methodist Church for use as a home for first-time male offenders, a dairy and intensive poultry programme. on the eastern side of the road, plus adjoining the homestead including the coachman's house, silo and water tank and several

sheds A shed is typically a simple, single-story roofed structure that is used for hobbies, or as a workshop in a back garden or on an allotment. Sheds vary considerably in their size and complexity of construction, from simple open-sided ones de ...

were transferred to Keith I'Anson. *s: As part of the Church's use of the site for a detention home, a toilet block was constructed at the rear (west) of the main homestead, attached to a brick garden wall. *1974 and 1976: both parts of the estate were transferred to David Morris in a very poor state of repair. The homestead was faithfully restored by David Morris. The estate comprises . *2007-9: grant funding (2 separate grants) to prepare a conservation management plan for the homestead, and for conservation works to the homestead and gardens, Stallion Shed, Blacksmith's Shop, Hayshed, Accountant's Cottage, Gardener's Cottage, Blade Shearing Shed. *2009: new toilet block erected to south-west of homestead, alongside existing toilet block.

Heritage listing

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. It was at Iandra that its owner, George Henry Greene, pioneered share-farming in 1892, which revolutionised the approach to wheat growing in Australia. 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 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. Iandra also represents a rare example of a complete feudal-like estate established in Australia, modelled on the English Manor system, during the Federation period, which may have no equal in NSW or 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. 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.HO and Giovanelli 2004 Iandra Homestead Pastoral Estate was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 February 2005 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales. The Iandra Homestead Pastoral Estate is of outstanding significance as arguably the largest and most progressive wheat property and wheat farming enterprise in Australia of its time. It was at Iandra that the owner, George Henry Greene, pioneered share-farming, which revolutionised the approach to wheat growing in the nation. Greene introduced the innovative share-farming system in 1892 where he supplied the land and seed and the share farmer provided the labour. Amongst other technological advancements, the first large scale trial of Federation "rust proof" wheat developed by James Farrer occurred at Iandra, and Greene was the first to grow the wheat commercially. Soon after the turn of the century, Iandra had produced the largest yield of wheat at the time from a single property (100,000 bags of wheat), and the harvest 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 complete pastoral estate of Iandra Homestead provides valuable and rare evidence of the advancements, operation, prosperity and importance of wheat growing in Australia's development during the early 1900s. Together with the closely associated Greenethorpe village, Iandra also represents a rare example of a complete feudal-like estate established in Australia during the Federation period, based on the English manor system. During the same period he extended Iandra homestead, Greene established and constructed Greenethorpe village in 1908 based on this English manor system, where the village was constructed to house the tenant farmers and the tenant farms were laid out based around the single manor of Iandra. The Iandra homestead and grounds, its farmland, associated residences and outbuildings, and Greenthorpe village all date from the Edwardian period and are entirely centred around a single landowner, homestead and wheat farming, the likes of which may not exist elsewhere in the state or nation. 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. The place has a strong or special association with a person, or group of persons, of importance of cultural or natural history of New South Wales's history. The entire Estate of Iandra and Greenthorpe Village are closely associated with George Henry Greene, a prominent and leading figure in rural affairs in Australia and NSW, from 1878 until his death in 1911. Greene was a member of the Young Pastures and Stock Protection Board 1881-84, being its chairman from 1885 to 1888, and in 1890 became a foundation member of the Pastoralists Union of New South Wales. Greene was the Legislative Assembly Member for Grenfell in 1889-91, 1894 and 1895–98, during which time he was able to obtain a rail link to Grenfell. In 1899 he became a Member of the Legislative Council. The Estate and Village demonstrate and embody the seat of his power, as well as his extraordinary accomplishments, innovation and pioneering vision for wheat farming in Australia, as he entirely masterminded the construction and innovative operation of the Estate buildings, farming practices, and layout. Greene was also responsible for the construction of the Greenethorpe Village in 1908 to house the tenants, and named after Greene. Greene died in 1911 and was buried at the Iandra cemetery on the Estate. The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales. Iandra represents a fine and distinctive example of a magnificent Feudal-like manor house designed in the Federation Romanesque style, complete with its original grounds, farmlands, and other estate and farm buildings, all constructed in the Federation style and dating from the same period of c.1908-1911. The homestead incorporated an earlier 1880s homestead from the Victorian period. The integrity and condition of the estate as a whole is exceptionally high. The homestead also illustrates the work of English architects in Australia, and the work of the engineer Edward G Stone. The Manager's residence and stables constructed at the same time were also reportedly designed by the same architect, although the specific architect has still to be identified. Commonly known as "The Castle", the homestead and Estate as a whole is also a landmark of the region, which is highly visible from its prominent situation near the crest of the hill. The rural holdings of the Estate also represent a fine example of a complete cultural landscape of a share-farming enterprise, dating from the Federation period. The place has strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group in New South Wales for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. The Iandra estate is esteemed by the community of Greenethorpe and surrounding region, as the original Manor house to the village, as the landmark of the area and region, and as the place from where the village and prosperity of the region directly originated, and which it continues to represent. As such, the estate is of considerable importance to the community sense of place at Greenethorpe. This item was identified in two community workshops for the Central West project held at

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and Lithgow to identify items of significance to the people of NSW, which is a further indicator of the esteem in which the property is held by the broader contemporary community. The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The complete estate is an important historic reference site of the highly successful wheat farming properties and operations in Australia from the Federation period. It also has potential to yield rare information of the adaptation of the English Manor Feudal-like system in Australia. The homestead, together with other buildings within the estate are also exceptional examples of the early use of reinforced concrete construction. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. The Iandra Homestead Pastoral Estate is rare in Australia as the largest and most progressive wheat property and wheat farming enterprise in Australia of its time, which has survived with a remarkably high degree of integrity. It is also a rare as the first example of the innovative and highly successful share-farming system in Australia, dating from 1892. Iandra, and the closely associated Greenethorpe village, are a rare example of a complete feudal-like estate established in Australia during the Federation period, based on the English manor system. The homestead and grounds, its farmland, associated residences and outbuildings, and Greenthorpe village all date from the Edwardian period and are entirely centred around a single landowner, homestead and wheat farming, the likes of which may not exist elsewhere in the state or nation. In its distinctive scale, grandeur, planning, farmlands, gardens and collection of purpose-related buildings, the complete pastoral estate of Iandra Homestead provide rare evidence of the advancements, operation, prosperity and importance of wheat growing in Australia's development during the early 1900s. The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales. The Iandra Homestead Pastoral Estate represents an outstanding example of a vast wheat farming estate from the Federation period, complete with its original farmland, manor house, park-like gardens, Estate and farm buildings. The buildings represent fine and distinctive examples of the Federation style of architecture in rural NSW. In its entirety, the item represents an excellent example of a wheat farming cultural landscape that is distinctly associated with the pioneering of share-farming practices in Australia, as well as with the establishment of a complete Feudal-like estate and English Manor system in Australia.

References

Bibliography

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Attribution

External links

{{commons category
Official Iandra Castle websiteGrenfell Tourism Information (official)Young & Hilltops Region Visitor Information (official)Cowra Visitor Information (official)
Homesteads in New South Wales Federation style architecture Houses completed in 1910 New South Wales State Heritage Register Greenethorpe, New South Wales Former boarding schools in New South Wales Methodism in Australia Farms in New South Wales Tourist attractions in New South Wales Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register 1910 establishments in Australia