Near Dubbo. Whitewashed slab walls of Dundullimal homestead. Built in 1842. Now a National Trust property.
Dundullimal homestead.
Not many buildings on the western plains date from before the mid 1850s but Dubbo has an amazing slab house built in the early 1840s of yellow box, ironbark and river red gum slabs. It is believed to be the oldest slab house in NSW and is now owned by the National Trust and operated as a museum of squatting life in the 1840s. The complex of buildings include the homestead, a timber church, sandstone stables built in later decades, and outbuildings. The not grand homestead is in almost original condition and is said to embody the innovation and ingenuity of the early Australian way of life. When built Dundullimal was a sheep station of 26,000 acres along the Macquarie River. The outbuildings include a blacksmith, coach room, sunken cool room, caretaker’s cottage, windmill, wells etc. Inside the homestead it was well equipped and the sitting room had imported wall paper (now reproduced), imported furniture (now all antiques) and style. The 1872 timber church was moved to Dundullimal in 2013. The original homestead was just a couple of rooms which were added to with two main wings. It has French windows and a north facing veranda. Much of the interior joinery is red cedar. Ceilings are of whitewashed cypress pine. Dundullimal was established after the 1836 government decree allowing squatting by license in these western districts. Earliest reference to it is in 1838 with the owners Charles and Dalmahoy Campbell. The run’s name means “thunderstorm”. Like many large squatting runs by 1839 it five assigned male convicts to work on the property and one female assigned convict for house duties. John Maughan took over the property in 1842. He extended the house especially after his wife arrived there in 1852. By 1855 Maughan owned considerable areas of land freehold. He sold Dundullimal in 1858. A few acres of the original property was finally granted to the National Trust from a deceased estate in 1985.
Near Dubbo. Whitewashed slab walls of Dundullimal homestead. Built in 1842. Now a National Trust property.
Dundullimal homestead.
Not many buildings on the western plains date from before the mid 1850s but Dubbo has an amazing slab house built in the early 1840s of yellow box, ironbark and river red gum slabs. It is believed to be the oldest slab house in NSW and is now owned by the National Trust and operated as a museum of squatting life in the 1840s. The complex of buildings include the homestead, a timber church, sandstone stables built in later decades, and outbuildings. The not grand homestead is in almost original condition and is said to embody the innovation and ingenuity of the early Australian way of life. When built Dundullimal was a sheep station of 26,000 acres along the Macquarie River. The outbuildings include a blacksmith, coach room, sunken cool room, caretaker’s cottage, windmill, wells etc. Inside the homestead it was well equipped and the sitting room had imported wall paper (now reproduced), imported furniture (now all antiques) and style. The 1872 timber church was moved to Dundullimal in 2013. The original homestead was just a couple of rooms which were added to with two main wings. It has French windows and a north facing veranda. Much of the interior joinery is red cedar. Ceilings are of whitewashed cypress pine. Dundullimal was established after the 1836 government decree allowing squatting by license in these western districts. Earliest reference to it is in 1838 with the owners Charles and Dalmahoy Campbell. The run’s name means “thunderstorm”. Like many large squatting runs by 1839 it five assigned male convicts to work on the property and one female assigned convict for house duties. John Maughan took over the property in 1842. He extended the house especially after his wife arrived there in 1852. By 1855 Maughan owned considerable areas of land freehold. He sold Dundullimal in 1858. A few acres of the original property was finally granted to the National Trust from a deceased estate in 1985.