Gunnedah Shire council votes to support listing Kurrumbede homestead on the heritage register

The Heritage Council of NSW revealed in October it was giving consideration to listing Kurrumbede Homestead Complex on the State Heritage Register, in acknowledgement of its heritage significance to the people of New South Wales.

Members of the community, owners, managers, organisations and other interested parties were then invited by the Heritage Council of NSW to make submissions about the proposal up until November 15, 2021.

Gunnedah shire councillors voted to support the move at an extraordinary meeting of Council this week.

The report to Council noted the homestead, built by the Mackellar family in 1906, was an example of a large pastoral landholding in the early 20th century, had been a second home to famous poet Dorothea Mackellar, and had an association with Olympic swimmer Andrew "Boy" Charlton who was a station hand at Kurrumbede.

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The homestead, a grand rural residence set within formal gardens, is one of the earliest concrete block residential structures in New South Wales.

It also lies just a few hundred metres away from what will be Whitehaven Coal's Vickery coal mine.

Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society President Philippa Murray said recently that the estate was of state or national significance and ought to be protected under state law.

Aside from the connection with one of the country's most famous poets, the site is also one of the last 20^th century working stations.