Duntryleague facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Duntryleague |
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Duntryleague, pictured in 2017.
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| Location | Woodward Road, Orange, City of Orange, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1875–1890 |
| Architect | House:
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| Owner | The Orange Golf Club Ltd |
| Official name: Duntryleague with Lodge, Park, Gates, Stables; Orange Golf Club | |
| Type | State heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 318 |
| Type | Historic Landscape |
| Category | Landscape - Cultural |
| Builders |
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Duntryleague is a historic estate in Orange, Australia. It was once a grand family home, or mansion, but is now a popular golf club house and course. The main building was constructed between 1875 and 1890. It is also known as Duntryleague with Lodge, Park, Gates, Stables and Orange Golf Club. The Orange Golf Club Ltd owns the property. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because of its important history and beauty.
Contents
History
In the 1820s, land was set aside for future towns in New South Wales. In 1829, a surveyor named J. B. Richards marked out the land for the town of Orange. Nearby, large areas of land were given to early settlers. One of these areas, given to William Ealy Sampson in 1836, later became part of Duntryleague.
By 1846, some of this land was being leased or sold. An inn called the Boree Inn was built close to where Duntryleague would later stand. This inn was eventually taken down in the mid-1900s.
The Dalton Family
In 1847, a young man named James Dalton Senior opened a store in a nearby village. James Dalton was from Ireland. He became a very important shopkeeper in Orange. His store, Dalton Brothers' Store, grew to be a large general store. It sold almost everything a person could need.
James Dalton lived in Orange and built a house where most of his twelve children were born. When gold was discovered in Ophir in 1851, his store became very successful. Miners bought supplies from him.
Orange became a city in 1860. It grew into a busy trading center with mills, banks, and hotels. James Dalton was even one of the first aldermen (like a council member) for the city. He also built a successful flour mill.
By the 1870s, Dalton Brothers' Stores was a major business in western New South Wales. They traded a lot of wool. James Dalton even helped start the railway extension to Orange.
In 1872, James Dalton started buying land that would become his Duntryleague estate. By 1879, he owned about 311 acres. He named his new home Duntryleague after his birthplace in Ireland. The name means "the Fort of the three pillar stones."
He hired a famous architect, Benjamin Backhouse, to design the house. Local stonemasons built it using stone from a nearby hill. Bricks were made right on the property. The Dalton family moved into their new home in 1876. It was considered one of the finest houses in the colony.
The house had a chapel and a grand staircase. A beautiful stained-glass window in the staircase honored James Dalton. He was made a Papal Knight for his help to the Catholic Church.
The estate also had other buildings. These included two gatehouses and vineyards. A French winemaker, Leon Ravat, worked for Dalton and made wine from the grapes. A deep well and windmill helped water the property.
By 1880, Duntryleague grew even larger. James Dalton built other big homes for his children nearby. His business also expanded with warehouses in Sydney.
Around 1885, Dalton hired Alfred Andrew Patterson as a gardener. Patterson helped make Duntryleague's gardens magnificent. He later became a famous gardener in other parks in New South Wales.
James Dalton lived at Duntryleague until he passed away in 1919. He left the property to his son, Patrick, who was a priest. James wanted the house to become a Jesuit college, but this did not happen. The house stood empty for many years.
Alfred Andrew Patterson
Alfred Andrew Patterson (1859-1932) was a surveyor and gardener from Sweden. He came to Australia and worked on railways. After an illness, he became a gardener for James Dalton at Duntryleague.
Because of Dalton's influence, Patterson became the first head gardener at Cook Park in Orange in 1887. He turned a swampy area into a beautiful park. He later became the head gardener at Machattie Park in Bathurst for 20 years.
Patterson was also asked by the NSW Government to arrange flower displays for the Federation celebrations in Sydney in 1900 and 1901. He wrote a regular gardening column and was well-known for his gardening skills.
Duntryleague Becomes a Golf Course
In 1933–34, the Duntryleague estate was divided between James Dalton's sons. In 1935, the Orange Golf Club decided to buy the eastern part of the estate, which included the mansion. The club needed a new, larger golf course.
Even though it was during the Great Depression, the club raised money to buy the property. They planned to turn the mansion into a guesthouse and build a golf course. They believed it would attract tourists and golfers.
The golf club's purchase helped save the land from being divided up into smaller blocks. Many of the beautiful trees planted by the Daltons were kept. The house, stables, and original gatehouse were also preserved. The Daltons' old drainage system was even found and used again for the golf course.
However, some parts of the estate changed. The tall hedge near the 16th green was mostly cut away. The Daltons' orchard and vegetable garden were removed over time.
The golf course was designed by John Irving and later improved by famous golf course architect Eric Apperly. In 1935-36, new parts were added to the mansion to make it a guesthouse and clubhouse. A two-story wing was built on the north side, adding bedrooms and space for a bar, locker room, and office. Four tennis courts were also built.
When the club bought Duntryleague, there were four other houses on the property. Three were later taken down. The only one left is the original gatekeeper's cottage at the Woodward Street entrance. It became the home for the club's golf professional.
In 1939, the old windmill was replaced with bores to pump water for the golf course. During World War II (1942-1946), Duntryleague was used by the Red Cross as a place for soldiers to recover.
In 1949, landscape architect Ilmar Berzins created a master plan for the golf course. He chose which trees to plant and where. Many new trees and shrubs were planted under his guidance. By 1975, about 12,000 trees and shrubs had been planted on the course.
Over the years, more changes were made. An old army hut was moved and became the Professional's shop. New lounges and offices were built. A bowling green was added, but later removed. The guesthouse and clubhouse were updated with new bars, carpets, and modern facilities.
In 1980, the Orange Golf Club sold some land for a high school and new houses. This left the property at its current size of about 140 acres. Duntryleague was officially protected under the NSW Heritage Act in 1984.
Description
Grounds and Golf Course
Duntryleague sits on top of a hill, surrounded by many beautiful trees. When James Dalton owned it, the estate was very large. It included two gatehouses, vineyards, and a deep well with a windmill for irrigation.
The Banjo Patterson Memorial, a monument to a famous Australian poet, is made from one of Duntryleague's original gate posts.
When James Dalton owned the property, he cleared most of the native trees. He planted many imported trees, especially pines. You can still see different types of pines today, like Monterey pines and stone pines. The property also had a dairy farm, an orchard, a vegetable garden, and a vineyard. The Daltons even built a special drainage system to prevent flooding.
When the Orange Golf Club bought Duntryleague in 1935, they turned it into a golf course. They removed the last parts of the farm, like the orchard and vegetable garden. The golf course was designed by John Irving and Eric Apperly.
In 1949, landscape architect Ilmar Berzins created a plan for planting trees on the course. He chose drought-resistant grass for the fairways. He oversaw the planting of many trees, including Atlantic cedars, claret ashes, Japanese maples, and copper beeches. By 1975, around 15,000 trees and shrubs had been planted by the golf club. These new plantings added to the older trees from the 1800s, like redwoods and Bunya pines.
The golf course has many old and special trees. Some examples include:
- Redwoods and Mediterranean cypresses near the 1st tee.
- Incense cedars and Himalayan cedars near the 2nd tee.
- Antarctic beeches and blue gums near the 4th tee.
- Blue spruces and silk trees near the 5th tee.
- Large pin oaks and blue Atlas cedars near the 8th tee.
- A rare strawberry tree and a huge Himalayan cedar near the 10th tee.
The main entrance drive from Woodward Street is especially beautiful. It is lined with many different types of trees, including English elms, redwoods, and various cedars.
North of the mansion, there are four tennis courts. Other old trees in this area include lindens, English oaks, and a Bunya pine. West of the mansion, you can find old stone pines and English elms.
Mansion and Clubhouse
The Duntryleague mansion was built in 1876. It was designed by Benjamin Backhouse. It is a great example of the Victorian Filigree style, known for its fancy ironwork. It is a three-story house made of handmade bricks.
The front of the house has a grand entrance porch and a two-story verandah (a covered porch). The verandah has beautiful cast-iron posts and decorative iron lace railings. The gables (the triangular parts of the roof) also have fancy lace designs.
Inside, the rooms have very high ceilings. A wide, beautifully carved cedar staircase is the main feature of the central hall. A large stained-glass window on the staircase landing celebrates James Dalton becoming a Papal Knight. The staircase goes all the way up to a stained-glass skylight in the roof.
The house also has three marble fireplaces. The dining and drawing rooms can be separated by folding cedar doors. The current kitchen used to be the dairy. A two-story wing was added to the north side of the house, blending in well with the original building.
Duntryleague Gate-keeper's Lodge
At the entrance to the property, there is a charming gatekeeper's lodge. It has a patterned slate roof with decorative wooden trim and tall chimneys. A small corrugated iron verandah is at the front. The lodge is protected by a curved cast-iron fence.
Stables
Further from the main house, there are stables. They are built from sandstock bricks and have an iron roof. These stables were used for horses when Duntryleague was a private estate.
Heritage Listing
Duntryleague is very important because of its long history. It was part of one of the first land grants in the Orange area. It also included early buildings like the Coach and Horses Inn, which was one of the first inns in the region.
James Dalton, a very important businessman in Orange, bought the land in 1872. He built the grand Duntryleague mansion, which was designed by Benjamin Backhouse. The house is a wonderful example of Victorian architecture, showing off the wealth and influence of James Dalton. The estate also had gatehouses, stables, orchards, and gardens.
James Dalton's business, Dalton Bros., became one of the largest in western New South Wales. The Dalton family was also very influential in the Catholic community and helped fund churches and other important buildings. James Dalton was even made a Papal Knight for his services to the Catholic Church.
After James Dalton passed away, the property was used as a hospital during World War II. Then, in 1935, the Orange Golf Club bought Duntryleague. The club had been around since 1901, and James Dalton himself had opened it.
The golf club has made some changes over the years, but the house and grounds still show their original design and history. Duntryleague is now a well-known golf club in New South Wales, famous for its beautiful setting.
Duntryleague is important because of its connection to James Dalton and the architects and designers who shaped it. Its location on a hilltop, its large grounds (now a golf course), and its collection of old trees make it very beautiful. The main entrance drive, with its gatekeeper's lodge and the mansion itself, are all key parts of its historical and aesthetic value.
The mansion is a great example of the Victorian Filigree style, with its fancy ironwork and high-quality construction. The gatekeeper's lodge is also interesting for its decorative details and its link to the wealthy Dalton family.
The grounds of Duntryleague, even though they are now a golf course, have great historical and social importance. They are connected to the Dalton family, the Orange Golf Club, and many famous gardeners and landscape designers. The grounds have a large collection of mature, non-native trees, especially along the main entrance drive.
Duntryleague was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, recognizing its special value.
Images for kids
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Duntryleague, pictured in 2017.
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Duntryleague Guesthouse and Golf Club in winter 2019
See also
