Organisers of the historic Kurrumbede open day on Saturday, June 10, encourage people to go along in 1930s themed attire, a nod to the glory days of Kurrumbede and its most famous resident of the era, poet Dorothea Mackellar (1885–1968).
Observance of the ‘30s garden party theme is not mandatory – everyone is welcome in any gear they choose but in previous years open day visitors have impressed by getting right into the spirit.
The gates at Kurrumbede will open between 10am and 3pm.
It’s easy to find Kurrumbede, along the Blue Vale Road close to Gunnedah.
The open day will be a family day out with food and live music, pony cart rides, barbecue, puppet show and poetry.
Previous open days have been popular with visitors from across the north west.
Kurrumbede was Dorothea Mackellar’s home at various times and the gracious homestead is a direct link to the poet who wrote Australia’s iconic ‘My Country.’… ‘I love a sunburnt country.’
‘Kurrumbede’ a 3000 hectare station was owned by the Mackellar family for almost 40 years.
Bought in 1905 by Dorothea Mackellar’s father, who later built the homestead, Kurrumbede was one of Dorothea Mackellar’s favourite holiday retreats and features a landscape evoked in a number of her works.
Kurrumbede is on property owned by Whitehaven Coal since 2010.
Whitehaven announced several years ago that it was committed to safeguarding the historic home and grounds, investing $500,000 in restoration of the homestead and gardens
Poet Dorothea Mackellar.
