Rod Thompson
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THE current owners of Bogleburn have some big plans in store to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the well-known local homestead.
In September, the property located on Mirannie Road, Reedy Creek, near Singleton, reached the important milestone.
And, to mark the occasion, Belinda and Bryan Stevenson are opening their doors for a number of special functions.
“The celebrations begin on Saturday with dear friends from Sydney being married at the property,” Mrs Stevenson said.
“The ceremony will be on the hilltop, with a 100-year-old concert grand piano being played.
“Guests then move to the Shearing Shed for pre-dinner drinks and canapés before entering the original Barn, which has been restored to its former glory.
“It’ll be transformed with chandeliers and many other surprise details for a very glamorous wedding reception.”
The fun continues throughout the month, according to Mrs Stevenson.
“On September 18 and 19, we’ll host a weekend of events for the local community,” she said.
“We’re inviting all of the original Roberts family back to Bogleburn to share in the celebrations and reflect on their times growing up on the property.
“Should the history be of interest to residents, we encourage you to meet with Bob Roberts.
“He has great knowledge of the property as he and his family were the last Roberts to live at Bogleburn, which in Welsh, means ‘the meeting of two creeks’.
“We’ll have a light lunch on Friday, September 18, for the Singleton Historical Society members – they’re joining us to enjoy the garden and the house.
“We’re then inviting all Mirannie Road residents to join us in our celebrations, with High Tea in the Garden on Saturday, September 19, from 10am to 2pm, as they have watched Bogleburn evolve over time.”
On March 1, 1897, Stewart and Frank Corner leased 800 acres of land to George Roberts, a property he ran as a dairy holding.
On September 22, 1906, it was put up for auction together with other land totalling approximately 4800 acres.
Mr Roberts purchased the property and it became known as Bogleburn.
The Barn was built first and a small slab hut for the family to live in.
The builder was Bruce Jenkins from Sydney and his team lived in the barn while the house was built; the house was completed in September 1915.
The house of Bogleburn is considered one of the best examples of a Federation home in Singleton.
Four of the five bedrooms have doors onto the veranda.
One of these bedrooms is known as the drover’s room because it was set up with a camp stretcher, wash basin and water and a small simple meal.
It was well-known that any drover passing by could house his stock in the front paddock, have a meal, wash up and get a nap before continuing on his way.
The Roberts family lived in the house for approximately 80 years.
It was subdivided in 1992 and in 1995 the 70 acres of land, containing the original homestead was then sold to Ian and Sandra Lloyd-Jones.
The Lloyd-Jones family lived at Bogleburn for 15 years and, through this time, respected the beauty of the house with their renovations.
In 2010, the Stevensons purchased the property.
“We truly love the history of, and sharing, our beautiful property with family and friends,” Mrs Stevenson said.
“We have spent the past four years sourcing the antique furniture and artworks, with each piece having a special meaning from our travels through Tuscany, England, France and Australia.
“On our most recent trip in 2014, we found a 17th century walnut Cassone (chest) with carved grapevine mouldings to the front panel and a gadrooned base moulding above paw feet.
“Although purchased in Tetbury in England, the piece is Italian, circa 1675.”