Booloominbah Historic House
Booloominbah, said to be Australia’s largest country house, was designed in 1883 by John Horbury Hunt for Frederick Robert White a leading pastoralist. It was constructed by the local building contractors William Seabrook and John Brown and completed in 1888. The White family occupied the house until 1933. The property was given by White's son-in-law Thomas Richmond Foster to the University of Sydney and became the New England University College in 1938.
Architecture
Booloominbah is one of Australia’s finest examples of the Queen Anne style. The original decoration was carried out by the Sydney firm of Lyon and Cottier and included elaborate stencil work, carving and stained glass. Some of the decorative schemes have been restored in recent years.
The Gordon Window dominates the entrance hall and the fine staircase. The window contained plain glass until about 1901 when the window commemorating the life of General Gordon was installed.
The building houses the university’s secretariat and a restaurant, the The Booloominbah Collection.
Opening times
The entrance hall and former dining room are open for public viewing on weekdays from 9am to 4.30pm.