Thanks to a sympathetic restoration, this historic home’s provenance is on full display. Photos: Ray White Canberra.
Hauling bluestone from local quarries by horse and cart in 1908, Irish stonemasons crafted the property at 25 Manning Street, Binalong — a residence built to endure for generations.
Originally crafted as part of Binalong’s historic Catholic precinct, this Federation Queen Anne landmark has undergone a sensitive restoration, marrying its architectural heritage with a floor plan refined for modern living.
The home’s period craftsmanship is evident wherever you look: soaring pressed-metal ceilings, ornate cornices, character fireplaces, original timber floors, and grand feature arches that anchor the formal entry.
But more than aesthetics, the massive bluestone walls offer exceptional thermal mass, paired with high transom windows designed to capture cross-ventilating breezes in summer. Come winter, life pivots inward around open fires, sunlit living spaces and evening drinks on the north-east deck.
Set across nearly 5000 sqm with sweeping views over neighbouring farmland, the residence balances historic scale with contemporary comfort.
Every inch of the residence has been lovingly restored, with one standout at the heart of the home — the kitchen.
“It’s a French country kitchen reimagined, built where the fourth bedroom once sat, so it has generous proportions,” Ray White Canberra agent Dan Cooper says.
Equipped with a classic Belling upright stove and gas cooktop, a cosy Morso wood heater, dishwasher and expansive bench space, the kitchen forms a natural gathering point.
Adjacent to it, a north-east facing sunroom provides a light-filled setting for morning coffee, while the main living room centres on a feature fireplace before flowing into the formal dining area.
To enhance the home’s natural light and air circulation, the current owners reopened sections of the original wrap-around verandah that had been enclosed during previous alterations.
“You now get wonderful cross-ventilation and natural light throughout the home,” Cooper says. “It restores much of the architectural integrity the property originally possessed.”
As sunset approaches, life takes on a different pace with a deck like this.
The accommodation wing continues the home’s traditional elegance. The main bathroom features a classic cast-iron clawfoot bath with an overhead shower and a custom French vanity.
Three generously proportioned bedrooms offer flexible accommodation. The second spacious bedroom offers built-in robes, an electric fireplace, and French doors leading out to sweeping country vistas. A third bedroom enjoys convenient two-way access to a stylishly renovated second bathroom.
“You get a distinct landscape view from almost every room,” Dan says. “My personal favourite is the perspective from the second bedroom, looking out over the surrounding grazing land.”
The main suite features a cast-iron gas fireplace, built-in wardrobes and direct French door access to an enclosed verandah and adjoining storage space, offering seamless potential to convert into a walk-in wardrobe, ensuite or private adult retreat.
Outside, the grounds are established for both entertaining and practical self-sufficiency, with rolling lawns, mature trees and custom stone pathways framing the rear of the property.
A broad deck off the sunroom extends the indoor living areas outdoors, overlooking the manicured acreage.
“It’s an ideal spot for evening entertaining against the sunset,” Dan says. “It’s where you naturally gravitate at the end of the day.”
Alongside mains town water, the property has a private water bore for year-round garden irrigation, plus an original underground concrete rainwater well. Practical storage includes a large single garage and heavy-duty metal outbuildings.
Steeped in local lore, Binalong holds deep ties to Australian history — from poet Banjo Paterson to bushrangers Ben Hall and Johnny Gilbert, whose historic grave remains a focal point of the town’s heritage trail.
Situated on the edge of the Yass Valley near regional wineries, local amenities, and less than an hour from Canberra, 25 Manning Street offers a rare combination of historic magnitude and country accessibility.
“It’s a remarkably unique property for the region,” Dan says. “Very few homes of this ilk were ever built here.”
For more information on 25 Manning Street, Binalong, contact Ray White Canberra agent Dan Cooper. And to stay ahead of the market, check out the latest listings on Zango.
Original Article published by Dione David on Region Canberra.
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