Iandra Castle
| Iandra (Mt Oriel homestead) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | House |
| Architectural style | Federation Romanesque |
| Location | near Greenethorpe, New South Wales |
| Coordinates | 34°04′51″S 148°21′51″E / 34.08071°S 148.36420°ECoordinates: 34°04′51″S 148°21′51″E / 34.08071°S 148.36420°E |
| Construction started | 1908 |
| Completed | 1910 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Reinforced concrete |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | unknown English architect |
Iandra (colloquially known as Iandra Castle) is a large homestead 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of Greenethorpe, New South Wales and 26 kilometres (16 mi) north of Young, New South Wales, Australia. It has a New South Wales heritage listing.
History and description
Built between 1908 and 1910 in the Federation Romanesque style by the pioneering engineer Edward Giles Stone, Iandra is a significant Australian example of early reinforced concrete construction. The homestead, with the surrounding agricultural property is a rare example in Australia of the manorial system, "the likes of which may not exist elsewhere in the state or nation".[1]
The dwelling along with the surrounding stables, church and residences were listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 2005.[1]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iandra Castle. |
Although Iandra is colloquially known as a castle, Iandra is not a castle. A castle is a fortified building designed for the defence of territories in warfare, and also used to solidify rule in a region during peace time. Iandra is styled on a traditional English stately home, and to call it a castle is technically incorrect. The most correct name for Iandra is probably the one given to it by its first owner George Greene, which is Mount Oriel Homestead.
Iandra also remains one of few tangible places that embody the iconic, optimistic image of Australia as "the lucky country", which can still be appreciated in the surviving, grand, Edwardian estate, where a European immigrant bought undeveloped land in the middle of rural NSW, created his own replica European empire and made himself "Lord of the Manor" out of little except his own ambition, vision, enterprise, determination and the riches of the land.
References
- 1 2 "Iandra Homestead Pastoral Estate". State Heritage Register. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
2. Iandra Homestead Pastoral Estate NSW Gov Environment and Heritage