Iandra Castle - Mt Oriel Homestead

If you should happen to be driving through the Central West of NSW, past grazing sheep, amid paddocks of wheat and canola, the last thing you would expect to see is a castle! On the road from Greenethorpe to Young, however, this is just what you will see. Mount Oriel homestead is a unique part of Australia’s heritage. The existing homestead was built over, and incorporates, the original single-storey brick building on the site. This was the home of George Henry Greene, local landowner, grazier, and politician, after whom nearby Greenethorpe is named. Construction was made using concrete, and was finished in 1911. The first home built on this site was built in brick and was finished in 1880. This original building was incorporated into the current structure, the building of which commenced in 1908. Built of steel-reinforced concrete, it housed 57 rooms and featured many ‘modern’ conveniences – electricity, hot and cold water, sewage and telephones to all rooms. At the same time, new stables and men’s quarters were also built. Iandra had its own store, post office, offices, public school, church, carpenter and blacksmith’s shop. The ornate Edwardian mansion costing £63,000 was completed in 1910. Iandra Castle is open to pre-booked tour groups and has periodical Open Days, check their website for details including other images of the homestead.