Emma and Angus Graham with their dog Maverick at Mylora, their property near Binalong. Expressions of interest have been called for the property, which is expected to sell for $30 million. Photo: Supplied.
It’s the stories that Emma and Angus Graham of Mylora homestead will likely miss the most.
How Banjo Paterson, then a neighbour of their vast property near Binalong, wrote what is believed to be his first published poem there, Mylora Elopement.
It was, Emma said, about the young poet’s broken heart when the daughter of the Mylora station manager ran off with the station hand next door who was not Paterson – and the smitten poet was devastated.
“Apparently it was quite scandalous at the time,” Emma said.
But when it comes to folklore around the historic Binalong property, there’s so much more – like what you did when you were the matriarch of a property which bushrangers had clearly in their sights. (As a rest stop for Cobb and Co horses, riders and drivers in the day, Mylora was reportedly a popular stop-off, too, for such villains.)
Established by the pioneering Garry family, matriarch Mrs Garry decided the bushranging villains weren’t going to get her jewels – so she hid them – as it turned out safely – under a hen.
It’s this sort of folklore that the Grahams hope the new owners of Mylora will also learn to love and retell, generations on.
For only the third time in its history, Mylora has just gone on the market – with an estimated sale price of $30 million.
Mylora was held in the Garry family from the mid-1850s until about 30 years ago when the Grahams bought it.
“We put it on the market for the first time last year,” Angus said, “but it turned out to be not the right time,” he said.
“Last year there were tough times,” Angus said. “The economic and seasonal forecasts were horrendous and we didn’t get the interest we should have got for an estate like this.
The formal dining room at Mylora on the historic Binalong property. Photo: Supplied.
“But now is a good time … a time of change for our family.”
Emma said she would miss living on the historic property. “It is such a special place and has been so for our family. It has such history and we feel very lucky to have lived here.”
The 3200-hectare property, one of the largest in the district, boasts both arable land and rolling pastures and currently runs 4000 Merino ewes and 600 head of cattle, along with extensive grain storage, a 960-head cattle drought lot, sheep and lamb feed yards with a capacity of 10,000 head, cattle yards, hay sheds, machinery sheds and workshop.
There is also a 13-km double frontage to Jugiong Creek, as well as a 3-km double frontage to Bushrangers Creek, and frontage to Illalong, Garry, Sawpit and Blind creeks.
It also has a dam in almost every paddock, Angus said, with the property offering both a lifestyle as well as business opportunity. “It ticks all the boxes,” he said.
Mylora historic homestead at Binalong is on the market, with an estimated price of $30 million. Photo: Supplied.
It is expected to go for about $30 million, according to selling agent Stuart Davies of McGrath Rural in Camden.
“We’ve already had a lot of interest in it,” Stuart said, “both domestically and from overseas buyers.
“Emma and Angus have renovated it extensively over the years so now it’s a walk-in, drop your furniture down and enjoy the lifestyle already created for you.
“The hard work has already been done.”
The Grahams have put their mark on the property throughout, including the former ballroom which they converted into the master bedroom, transforming its stage into an ensuite bathroom.
They also created a self-contained bedroom underneath the house which was the former jail, keeping the character of the place quite distinct, by leaving in the window bars.
Today, the house features a total of six bedrooms, formal sitting and dining rooms and an extensive traditional garden along with a manager’s cottage, two staff cottages and shearers’ quarters.
Expressions of interest for Mylora close on 15 November.
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