Greenethorpe, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Greenethorpe is a town in the Central West
region of New South Wales
, Australia. The town is located in the Weddin Shire
local government area, 345 kilometres (214.4 mi) west of the state capital, Sydney
. At the 2006 census
, Greenethorpe and the surrounding area had a population of 110.
The village, with the associated "Mount Oriel" homestead
(known locally as Iandra Castle
), is a rare example in Australia of the manorial
system, "the likes of which may not exist elsewhere in the state or nation".
, established in 1908 to house sharefarmers who worked on the nearby Iandra pastoral station
, owned by George Henry Greene. The village, built adjacent to a rail siding on the Grenfell railway line, was originally named Iandra Siding but to avoid confusion between the pastoral station and the train station, the Post Office agreed to change the name to Greenthorpe. Shortly after, the spelling was again changed, this time to Greenethorpe from the Greene family name. Greenethorpe Public School was first established in 1903 as a Provisional School and named Iandra Siding. The school was renamed in 1909.
Iandra Siding Post Office opened on 20 January 1908 and was renamed Greenethorpe in September that year.
The village itself was based on the English manorial
system, with tenant farms—generally 640 acres (259 ha) each—distributed around the central homestead. The sharefarming system began in 1892 and a rail siding constructed in 1903. In the early years of the twentieth century, Iandra set a record for the largest ever yield of wheat from a single property, and by 1911 there were fifty sharefarmers working over 18000 acres (7,284.3 ha) there—the farmers supplying the machinery and labour and Greene providing seed and clearing ground suitable for ploughing. Around 1914, the property began to be broken up and most tenants were offered an option to purchase the land they had farmed.
The main dwelling in the Iandra homestead is an ornate mansion built from reinforced concrete
in the Federation Romanesque
style with Tudor influences. Consisting of 57 rooms on two storeys, it is referred to locally as "The Castle" in reference to its striking design and its semi-feudal role in the community. The homestead, built by pioneering engineer, Edward Giles Stone
, also includes a blacksmith, manager's residence, stables, and a small Gothic chapel.
cum post office, a hotel, a public school and a police station. The town is also home to an art gallery. The town does not have a mail delivery service; mail must be collected from the post office. The post office also carries a small collection of books from the Weddin Shire library service. Greenethorpe Public School still uses the existing 1903 building for two classrooms, a library and a computer laboratory with the art room, kitchen and the administration located in adjacent buildings. The school is fully air-conditioned.
To address problems related to a declining population—including declining school enrolments—in 2009 the Greenethorpe community adapted a farmhouse rental
scheme used earlier at nearby Cumnock
. The scheme entails offering farmhouses for rent at $1 per week to attract families to move to the area. The first two families attracted by the offer moved into the town soon after.
Since 1991, the Grenfell rail line—carrying grain only—has terminated in Greenethorpe. In November 2008, the New South Wales government announced that it was considering closing the branch line to Greenethorpe, leading to protest meetings in the town. However grain was still being freighted by rail from Greenethorpe in June 2009.
Central West, New South Wales
The Central West region refers to the area west of the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has an area of 63,262 square kilometers....
region of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia. The town is located in the Weddin Shire
Weddin Shire
Weddin Shire is a Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia. Its only significant town is Grenfell....
local government area, 345 kilometres (214.4 mi) west of the state capital, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Greenethorpe and the surrounding area had a population of 110.
The village, with the associated "Mount Oriel" homestead
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
(known locally as Iandra Castle
Iandra Castle
Iandra Castle is a large homestead near the town of Greenethorpe, New South Wales. Built between 1908 and 1910 in the Federation Romanesque style by the pioneering engineer Edward Giles Stone, it is a significant Australian example of early reinforced concrete construction...
), is a rare example in Australia of the manorial
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
system, "the likes of which may not exist elsewhere in the state or nation".
History
Greenethorpe is a purpose-built townNew town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
, established in 1908 to house sharefarmers who worked on the nearby Iandra pastoral station
Station (Australian agriculture)
Station is the term for a large Australian landholding used for livestock production. It corresponds to the North American term ranch or South American estancia...
, owned by George Henry Greene. The village, built adjacent to a rail siding on the Grenfell railway line, was originally named Iandra Siding but to avoid confusion between the pastoral station and the train station, the Post Office agreed to change the name to Greenthorpe. Shortly after, the spelling was again changed, this time to Greenethorpe from the Greene family name. Greenethorpe Public School was first established in 1903 as a Provisional School and named Iandra Siding. The school was renamed in 1909.
Iandra Siding Post Office opened on 20 January 1908 and was renamed Greenethorpe in September that year.
The village itself was based on the English manorial
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
system, with tenant farms—generally 640 acres (259 ha) each—distributed around the central homestead. The sharefarming system began in 1892 and a rail siding constructed in 1903. In the early years of the twentieth century, Iandra set a record for the largest ever yield of wheat from a single property, and by 1911 there were fifty sharefarmers working over 18000 acres (7,284.3 ha) there—the farmers supplying the machinery and labour and Greene providing seed and clearing ground suitable for ploughing. Around 1914, the property began to be broken up and most tenants were offered an option to purchase the land they had farmed.
The main dwelling in the Iandra homestead is an ornate mansion built from reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
in the Federation Romanesque
Federation architecture
Federation architecture refers to the architectural style in Australia, which was prevalent from around 1890 to 1920. The period refers to the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901, when the Australian colonies collectively became the Commonwealth of Australia...
style with Tudor influences. Consisting of 57 rooms on two storeys, it is referred to locally as "The Castle" in reference to its striking design and its semi-feudal role in the community. The homestead, built by pioneering engineer, Edward Giles Stone
Edward Giles Stone
Edward Giles Stone was an Australian engineer prominent in many innovative, often daringly and spectacular, aspects of early reinforced concrete constructions in Australia. He was also involved in cement manufacture....
, also includes a blacksmith, manager's residence, stables, and a small Gothic chapel.
Today
Facilities in the town include a general storeGeneral store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
cum post office, a hotel, a public school and a police station. The town is also home to an art gallery. The town does not have a mail delivery service; mail must be collected from the post office. The post office also carries a small collection of books from the Weddin Shire library service. Greenethorpe Public School still uses the existing 1903 building for two classrooms, a library and a computer laboratory with the art room, kitchen and the administration located in adjacent buildings. The school is fully air-conditioned.
To address problems related to a declining population—including declining school enrolments—in 2009 the Greenethorpe community adapted a farmhouse rental
Farmhouse rental
Farmhouse rental programs are a common method used by many rural Australian towns to attract new residents to live in their communities. The programs generally involve offering abandoned and often semi-derelict farmhouses for rent at a nominal price, often $1 per week. The towns that offer such...
scheme used earlier at nearby Cumnock
Cumnock, New South Wales
Cumnock is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the now closed cross-country railway line from Molong to Dubbo. The town is located in Cabonne Shire. At the 2006 census, Cumnock had a population of 288 people...
. The scheme entails offering farmhouses for rent at $1 per week to attract families to move to the area. The first two families attracted by the offer moved into the town soon after.
Since 1991, the Grenfell rail line—carrying grain only—has terminated in Greenethorpe. In November 2008, the New South Wales government announced that it was considering closing the branch line to Greenethorpe, leading to protest meetings in the town. However grain was still being freighted by rail from Greenethorpe in June 2009.