Minimbah House

After a respectful rejuvenation, Minimbah House, one of the Upper Hunter’s most magnificent estates, has once again become a much-loved family home.

Legend has it that Duncan Forbes Mackay commissioned the build of Dulcalmah Homestead in 1874 when his neighbours, the Dangars, failed to invite him to a party at nearby Baroona. It would have to have been a snub of epic proportions as Mackay’s response was a repartee for the ages. Dulcalmah, today known as Minimbah House, is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of High Victorian architecture in Australia and one of the Hunter’s grandest estates.

The Benjamin Backhouse-designed High Victorian Filigree style home, sitting on a ridge with commanding views towards Barrington Tops, the Brokenback Ranges and the Broke and Pokolbin Valleys, comes with 45 rooms plus a soaring watchtower. The Australian cedar and rosewood staircase was hand carved in Germany, and finely detailed windows feature stained glass with native Australian fauna.

Over its almost 150-year history, the stunning U-shaped property with its wide verandahs, graceful wrought-iron columns and majestic tower has been the glamorous stage for lavish entertaining. It served as a training ground for the Australian Army during the Second World War, was acquired by the Australian Inland Mission Bible Society at a give-away price, and later became the home of former Miss Australia Bliss Ryan and her late husband, hotelier and vigneron Bill Ryan. In the early 2000s Minimbah was to be transformed into a retirement home for wealthy women — thankfully, that project fell through.

The grand entrance hall with its eye-catching copper wall panelling and tessellated flooring was in great condition when Hamish and Prue Ord bought the property in 2013, after it had been passed in at auction. “We had been driving past this house for years as we have family in the Hunter Valley and had always admired it,” Prue says.

“When the opportunity came up, we were up for the challenge. Hamish has a building background, and this wasn’t our first renovation project. The building’s bones were solid, with the original features intact, and we knew that we could do this.”

The formal lounge and dining rooms to the left and right of the grand hallway feature original chandeliers from Czechoslovakia, ornate ceilings and cornices, gorgeously stencilled walls, textured wallpaper and Italian marble fireplaces. Hamish’s father’s vintage book collection is on display in his office, and one of the carefully updated original bathrooms remains a highlight.

The couple embarked on the renovation knowing it would be an open-ended project, one they would never truly finish. “We triple checked that there were no termites because that would have certainly been a deal breaker,” Hamish explains. “The roof was the biggest problem. There’s one acre of roof space which had to be completely redone, and the watch tower needed a lot of work too. We brought in specialists who had worked on churches and other heritage buildings to make sure we would get this right. We have had some amazing industry professionals help create what our home is today.”

Minimbah offers a majestic sight from any angle, and its alcoves are perfect for admiring the spectacular views. The 2.83-hectare holding, now with pool house and tennis court, has been listed with $10 million hopes by Cain Beckett of Jurd’s Real Estate.

The Ords, who run Potters Hotel microbrewery in Cessnock, bought it for $1.1 million in 2013 from Bliss Ryan, who with her husband Bill had paid $940,000 in 1994. With its extensive restoration complete, this grand old dame of the Upper Hunter is ready for its next chapter.