The last thing you'd expect to see nestled in the paddocks of canola and wheat in the central west is a castle, but on the road from Greenthorpe to Young you'll find the incredible home and grounds of Iandra Castle.
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Mr Oriel homestead was the home of George Henry Greene, local landowner, grazier and politician, after whom Greenthorpe is named.
It's a unique piece of Australian heritage and your family can visit and take it in in October, with open days on October 1 and 15.
Mr Greene commenced converting the single-storey brick house to a two-storey reinforced concrete building in 1908. It was completed in 1911.
He also built reinforced concrete stables, water tower with silo beneath, filtration plant, sheds, and 40 houses for the sharefarmers.
Iandra had its own store, post office, public school, carpenter's and blacksmith's shops as well as a handling agent for much farm machinery.
In all, 350 men were employed on the property not including the 61 sharefarmers, contractors or carriers.
At one time the property carried more than 19,000 sheep and in one year produced more than 10,000 tonnes of wheat with the assistance of five or six hundred men, nine steam chaff cutting plants, 23 carting teams and about 700 horses permanently carried on the property.
- This article based on the Iandra Castle website
- Go online to iandracastle.com to book your visit
