About Us

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Gidleigh Station is located just outside of Bungendore NSW. Bungendore is a central town, being 40 minutes from Canberra, 3 hours from Sydney, 2 hours to the snow, and 1.5 hours to the beach. The homestead complex is situated in elevation from 700 to 1,000 metres above sea level.

Gidleigh Station is one of the finest examples of a large-scale historic agricultural and homestead complex comprising approximately 5,900 acres of farmland. The station is under its third family ownership following the original King ownership, it was then sold to the Rutledge family in 1855 who at that time were based on a nearby station, Carwoola. The present owners, Richard and Isabel Harry, purchased the property in 2005 and have been operating the farming enterprise ever since. The property runs a mixed grazing operation incorporating beef, lamb, and wool.

The history of Gidleigh Station dates back to 1833, and follows the early colonial history of NSW as a highly productive agricultural enterprise running merino sheep and beef cattle. It is one of the most important colonial homesteads in Australia and features in Historic Homesteads of Australia, published by the Council of National Trusts in 1982.

The property was first taken up by Admiral Phillip Parker King who was the son of Governor Philip Gidleigh King. The earliest buildings are the convict built 1830s stables and 1840s homestead complex. Legendary bush ranger Jackey Jackey (William Westwood 1820-1846) was assigned to Gidleigh Station and worked on the stables from where he made his first escape.

Designed by distinguished English born colonial architect William Wardell, the large colonial homestead was built in 1882 of local and also farm sourced and quarried stone over several stages. The additional later two storied front wing was built after the First World War and comprises a ballroom, billiard room and staff quarters, blending in sympathetically with the original homestead. At a later stage, the front entry was redesigned by prominent colonial architect John S Mansfield. The house incorporates beautiful original Australian red-cedar joinery and hardwood flooring with cedar and marble fireplaces.

The Homestead Complex is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The feature English oak tree dividing the main courtyard and original Kings Cottage is a highlight, planted circa 1833 by the original owners, the oak is a living relic and up there with some of the oldest trees in the country. The sheer dimension (height/length/breadth) of the tree are extraordinary with multiple lower limbs extending out approximately 15 metres over the surrounding lawn and garden. In addition to multiple oaks, two magnificent Golden Elms on the front lawn were also planted by the King family in the 1830s. The gardens as seen today were originally developed and laid out by William Rutledge’s wife, Jean, in the 1880s - a key legacy is the beautiful rose garden outside the original Kings Cottage. Besides being a keen gardener and a collector of roses, she was the author of the Goulburn Cookery Book - a staple wedding present at the time to any new farmers wife!

The history is rich here at Gidleigh, and as you drive down Gidleigh Lane, you will notice the amazing property - from the truffle orchard on the hill under the shearing shed, to the numerous workers cottages that have been renovated, and the rolling hills supporting the beef, lamb, and wool enterprises - it is certainly a magnificent property that we cherish very dearly.