Property Details
When the Duncan Family built "Ballymore" in 1885, they had the pick of the best location in the whole of the Megalong Valley so that today "Ballymore" sits on 54 lush acres watered by spring-fed dams and enjoys panoramic views.
The abundant water enabled the Duncans to plant and maintain an English garden that today provides an entrance that is lined by towering conifers. Around the homestead, the original camelias , White Cedars and orchard trees create a classical ambience.
The "Ballymore" homestead is built in three distinct sections, evidence of the historic epochs that the homestead has presided over the surrounding territory. The original homestead housing three bedrooms, and the original parlour was built of Pisé Stone (rammed earth).
In 1921 a cedar extension housing the "new" kitchen with a double fronted fireplace and living room with Wunderlich pressed ceilings was added. And finally in 1995 the current owners added a spacious contemporary family room wing which today provides practical and tasteful accommodation for a large family.
The various enhancements over the years have seen the long history of this Blue Mountains icon carefully preserved: original barns and shedding add to the authenticity of "Ballymore" and due to the covenants placed on surrounding titles, new structures have been prevented from being built in sight of the Homestead: "Ballymore"'s privacy is protected by common law, and so the scenery remains timeless.
"Ballymore" is the perfect canvas to paint your dreams: fatten your own prize cattle, establish a thriving market garden, provide a wildlife sanctuary, raise or agist horses or just enjoy the sunset swims up at the "big dam" and the long languid lunches in the shade of the spreading White Cedar. The choice is entirely yours. There is no one in sight or earshot who will ever know.
Rarely do properties like "Ballymore" come onto the market .Not only is "Ballymore " the oldest existing farm in the Blue Mountains but its future is assured for many generations to come : In these uncertain times , a farm with good soil and its own permanent underground water supply is where the future resides.
• 21.5 hectares of prime valley land
• The original pise structure is said to be among the best existing examples in the valley
• Water supply for the house is from a 5000 gal tank (with pressure pump) supplied by roof catchment
• There are 4 dams , three of which are spring fed and never drop
• Pavilion attached the original building was constructed in the 1990s and attached to the original structure by a glass ceilinged breezeway
• Extensively rennovated in the 1990s, the home is in very good condition, with authentic heritage character
• Heating: slow combustion wood fire and LPG gas heating, solar passive pavilion design
• Guaranteed income from long-term agistment of cattle by a local valley farmer who maintains the fences
• Several rustic sheds, including a substantially sized original corrugated iron shed/stables, with a concrete slab floor
• Original plantings of English Oak and White Cedar, and a home paddock orchard of century old pears and apples
• Ballymore is heritage listed as an item of State Historic Significance. Due to this listing major architectural changes to the original building are not permitted
• When the original Ballymore farm was partitioned, covenants were placed on surrounding titles restricting the building of any structures that may be visible from the Ballymore homestead. These covenants still hold
Land area
21.58 hectares (approx)
