Not for crocs, none in East Anglia, but a hay feeder for "Maynard's Patent Chaff Cutter". The latter cuts hay for mixing into animal feed. Risky work.

Maynards' was well known for its agricultural machines. Established in 1834 by Robert Maynard at the High Street in Whittlesford near Cambridge. A family business until R J Maynard's death in the 1950s when it closed and was sold. The site later became a manufactury of artificial Christmas trees and tinsel - Progress!

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This account from 1885...

Maynard's Automatic Chaff-cutters, 1885

About 150 gentlemen, most of them practical farmers, were collected together at Mr. Maynard's factory on Tuesday last, to witness the working of different size chaff-cutters, fitted with automatic “feeding” apparatus. Three machines were running; one (a six-knife cutter) was placed at the end of the shakers of a five feet thrashing machine and was cutting the straw from wheat sheaves as fast as the thrasher poured the straw on to it. With this arrangement, an immense saving is effected in producing chaff, because, after the man has dropped the sheaves into the mouth of the drum, the straw, as it falls from the shakers, is grasped by the mechanical arrangement and forced between the rollers of the cutter, which pass it on to the knives, and so it is cut into chaff and, after being sifted, deposited in bags without any intervening hands.

As no other cutter has ever been fitted with “self-feeding” apparatus, and as this entirely dispenses with all possible danger to an attendant, it will doubtless be found a great boon to all users of steam chaff-cutters.

The next size cutter, known the No.6 (a five-knife machine), was running in connection with the patent yealming machines. This was operating on sainfoin bean, oat, and wheat straws: it swallowed up these materials and converted them into chaff without being touched by hand in a marvellous manner.

Another machine, known as the No. 7 (a four-knife cutter), was working singly. On side shutter, a man stood with a fork and dealt out the different materials as the machine required it. By this machine, it was shown that it was not absolutely necessary to cut from the shakers, or to the expense of the yealmer; but, on comparing samples of chaff, it was soon seen how far inferior that from this cutter was to that from the other two machines.

During the two to three hours’ trial of the machines, at intervals, we believe not a single hitch or stoppage occurred, and everyone present took a very lively interest in witnessing the easy and most effective way the various machines did their work. Several gentlemen complimented Mr. Maynard upon the ingenuity and mechanical skill he evidently possessed to bring his inventions so near perfection.

The story appeared in the Cambridge Independent Press for 14th March 1885. The newspaper is filed at the Cambridgeshire Collection in Lion Yard Library, Cambridge

Cuts hay for mixing into animal feed. Risky work.

Maynards' was well known for its agricultural machines. Established in 1834 by Robert Maynard at the High Street in Whittlesford near Cambridge. A family business until R J Maynard's death in the 1950s when it closed and was sold. The site later became a manufactury of artificial Christmas trees and tinsel - Progress!

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This account from 1885...

Maynard's Automatic Chaff-cutters, 1885

About 150 gentlemen, most of them practical farmers, were collected together at Mr. Maynard's factory on Tuesday last, to witness the working of different size chaff-cutters, fitted with automatic “feeding” apparatus. Three machines were running; one (a six-knife cutter) was placed at the end of the shakers of a five feet thrashing machine and was cutting the straw from wheat sheaves as fast as the thrasher poured the straw on to it. With this arrangement, an immense saving is effected in producing chaff, because, after the man has dropped the sheaves into the mouth of the drum, the straw, as it falls from the shakers, is grasped by the mechanical arrangement and forced between the rollers of the cutter, which pass it on to the knives, and so it is cut into chaff and, after being sifted, deposited in bags without any intervening hands.

As no other cutter has ever been fitted with “self-feeding” apparatus, and as this entirely dispenses with all possible danger to an attendant, it will doubtless be found a great boon to all users of steam chaff-cutters.

The next size cutter, known the No.6 (a five-knife machine), was running in connection with the patent yealming machines. This was operating on sainfoin bean, oat, and wheat straws: it swallowed up these materials and converted them into chaff without being touched by hand in a marvellous manner.

Another machine, known as the No. 7 (a four-knife cutter), was working singly. On side shutter, a man stood with a fork and dealt out the different materials as the machine required it. By this machine, it was shown that it was not absolutely necessary to cut from the shakers, or to the expense of the yealmer; but, on comparing samples of chaff, it was soon seen how far inferior that from this cutter was to that from the other two machines.

During the two to three hours’ trial of the machines, at intervals, we believe not a single hitch or stoppage occurred, and everyone present took a very lively interest in witnessing the easy and most effective way the various machines did their work. Several gentlemen complimented Mr. Maynard upon the ingenuity and mechanical skill he evidently possessed to bring his inventions so near perfection.

The story appeared in the Cambridge Independent Press for 14th March 1885. The newspaper is filed at the Cambridgeshire Collection in Lion Yard Library, Cambridge

The line of Chaffcutters as made by Andrews & Beaven Ltd of Christchurch includes some hundred different combinations.

This shows the Court Barn at the Weald & Downland Living Museum in Singleton, West Sussex, which is the filming location for the BBC television program "The Repair Shop". The barn is a timber-framed structure that was originally built in the late 17th or early 18th century in Lee-on-the-Solent. It was dismantled and re-erected at the museum in 1979. The barn is recognisable by its thatched roof and large wooden doors. It is situated in a rural setting, surrounded by trees and a dirt path. The Weald & Downland Living Museum is an open-air museum that features historic buildings from South East England. It covers 16 hectares and includes over 50 historic buildings, as well as farm animals. Visitors can explore the museum and see the Court Barn, although access to the inside of the barn may be limited to specific open days. The museum is located within the South Downs National Park.

The Wiston Wagon Shed is the small shed on the left, It was built close to the farmyard to house carts and wagons needed on the farm. It probably dates from the 18th century.

In most farmsteads the wagon shed will be found either outside the yard or facing outwards from the buildings arranged round its perimeter. Many wagon sheds are simply open-fronted buildings — similar to shelter sheds for cattle, but recognisable because they face outwards from the yard.

The Watersfield Stable is the building on the right. This timber-framed and weatherboarded stable probably dates from the late 17th or 18th century. It contained standings for four or five horses or oxen.

In the lower end of the stable is a horse-powered chaffcutter. Next to the smithy is the stable from Hoe Farm, Watersfield.

www.wealddown.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwtdi_B...

www.wealddown.co.uk/buildings/wagon-shed-from-wiston/

www.wealddown.co.uk/buildings/stable-from-watersfield/

Gulf Station began in the 1840s as part of a 25,000 acre run known as the Gulf and was owned by the Bell family for the bet part of 100 years until 1951..

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Gulf Station is one of the oldest and most intact examples of a pioneer farm complex in Australia..

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Probably a chaff cutter from the early 1900s.

(Any additional info will be appreciated.)

Gethlane

Limpopo Province

South Africa

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was laid out and built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and labouring workers on the estate. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe once the village was established. The state Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The township survives with around 120 residents and its churches, the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. To keep the town alive it began an ex farm house rental scheme to bring families to the town. Weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Bentalls of Heybridge England, producers of agricultural machinery.

I found this machine in the Bentalls catalogue which only had one handwheel but in all other respects was identical.

www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im20110716MEAL-i133.jpg

The right hand wheel here is missing a handle but the socket can be seen for where it attaches.

It seems that most cottagers have taken to displaying ancient farming implements in their front gardens to further the sense of times gone by for the visitors.

IMG_5736

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was laid out and built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and labouring workers on the estate. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe once the village was established. The state Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The township survives with around 120 residents and its churches, the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. To keep the town alive it began an ex farm house rental scheme to bring families to the town. Weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was laid out and built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and labouring workers on the estate. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe once the village was established. The state Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The township survives with around 120 residents and its churches, the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. To keep the town alive it began an ex farm house rental scheme to bring families to the town. Weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia. Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Greenethorpe. The village was laid out and built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and labouring workers on the estate. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe once the village was established. The state Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The township survives with around 120 residents and its churches, the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. To keep the town alive it began an ex farm house rental scheme to bring families to the town. Weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was laid out and built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and labouring workers on the estate. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe once the village was established. The state Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The township survives with around 120 residents and its churches, the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. To keep the town alive it began an ex farm house rental scheme to bring families to the town. Weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Iandra Castle near Greenethorpe. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres was sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties in the west before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their diary property in 1887. Greene established his own village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers he contracted to work his lands. He started with just one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. To go with his village George Greene needed a castle like a medieval lord of the manor. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms and castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried here. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School for those aged 15 to 18 took in first time offenders in the criminal justice system. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974. The next owner was David Morris who restored the castle and more recent owners are Rod and Bev Kershaw. Iandra castle is thus one of the most unusual and surprising heritage properties in Australia.

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.

Greenethorpe. The village was built in 1908 to house share farmers contracted to work 640 acre blocks on Iandra castle estate. Two style of houses are clear- those for share farmers and those for labourers. The Anglican Church and the first Methodist churches were built in 1910 with the current Methodist in 1928 and the Catholic in 1933. The original railway siding of 1887 called Iandra was changed to Greenethorpe in 1908. The Greenethorpe School was established in 1903 and the Post Office started in 1908. The town survives with 120 residents and the Shamrock Hotel, the local hall, a state school (23 students), Post Office and general store/café in the old 1935 bank building. From 1991 the rail service to Grenfell terminated at Greenethorpe but it has closed. The town alive it began house rental scheme with weekly rental was set at $1 for disused houses

Iandra Castle. George and Elizabeth Greene were settlers with a difference when they purchased their 32,000 acre property in 1878. They built their first homestead named Mount Oriel House in 1880. Greene was a NSW politician and a man with ideas. By the time he died in 1911 his Mount Oriel estate had over 20,000 acres sown in crop. His obituary said he came to a landscape of bush and transformed it into a granary. His estate used 700 horses and employed over 600 people plus various chaffcutters, thrashers etc and the woolshed sheared 30,000 sheep. He came to NSW in 1847 with his parents and spent most of his life on pastoral properties before he purchased Iandra. He dreamed of a medieval feudal system to grow vast areas of crop with little labour. He was regarded as the most important wheat farmer in Australia along with William Farrer who developed his rust resistant wheat type. Greene claims to have introduced the concept of share farming to Australia. He provided the land and took half of the value of the crop but the share farmer bought the seed, fertiliser and provided the labour to sow and reap the crop. But did he? Share cropping was common in the American south after the Civil War and Elizabeth Onlsow (nee MacArthur of Camden Park NSW) introduced share farming on their dairy property in 1887. Greene established his village with houses for the fifty sharefarmers contracted to work his lands. He started with one share farmer in 1891 and gradually expanded the system. His estate manager, named Leonard l’Anson came from Waterloo in South Australia and members of the Freebairn family from Alma in SA also moved to Iandra to be share farmers. George Greene wanted a medieval castle like a medieval lord. Iandra castle was built in 1908 with 57 rooms, castellations and towers but the construction was decidedly modern with reinforced concrete walls. The style was slightly Gothic but the interior was very Edwardian with wood panelling and Art Nouveau stained glass panels etc. The external concrete was rendered to appear like stone. It cost around £63,000 to build. The property included stables, a manager’s residence, outbuildings, blacksmith shop, sheds etc. Near the house was a chapel built in 1886 and a cemetery. When George Greene died in 1911 he was buried there. The estate was partially broken up in 1914 and most share farmers were able to buy their 640 acre blocks. I’Anson continued as manager for Elizabeth Greene until her death in 1927. He was then able to buy 2,500 acres and the castle. Later Iandra castle was used as the Methodist Boys Home from 1954 to 1974. The Methodist Boys Farm School was for 15 to 18 year old first time offenders. They were taught farming skills. The Methodist Church sold the centre in 1974.