24 of Australia’s most beautiful country homesteads

Located outside of Bathurst is an 1860s Georgian-style homestead known as Yarras that has been carefully restored to its former glory. Positioned overlooking grazing cattle and auburn hills, the wraparound verandah is a real standout for owner Belinda; “When the sun sets, the colours are unreal,” Belinda says, “and when it’s quiet, you can hear water running in the rivulet. It’s just beautiful.”

Nestled into the valley outside the village of Buckland on Tasmania’s East Coast, historic homestead Twamley is surrounded by wide, wraparound verandahs and ancient oak trees. With lots of stories to share, the property was built as a gentleman’s retreat circa 1842 by Francis Smith, Tasmania’s fourth premier.

“You could be anywhere – it’s so quiet, you don’t hear a thing,” says Sophie, one of the owners of this beautiful rammed-earth homestead in Jugiong, NSW. After five years of restoration, the original 1856 pisé house and surrounding acreage are now the perfect base for Sophie, her husband Haydn and their four children.

“It was a well-known home – there were black-tie balls and weddings held here, and [Princess Anne’s ex-husband] Captain Mark Phillips even stayed on a number of occasions for horse trials,” says the owner of this carefully restored homestead in the Adelaide Hills known as Scottsburn Lodge.

This red brick beauty known as Banongill Station was originally built in 1853 and spent years uninhabited before being rescued by current owners, couple Jill and Dan. Following a careful restoration, Banongill Station is now a sparkling vision of classic country style; “It’s a beautiful house to live in because there’s so much light and we’ve got such amazing views of the garden,” says Jill.

The main homestead in Richmond Hill near Cressy, TAS is a Regency-era mansion surrounded by a formal garden abounding with lavender, heritage-listed oak trees, hawthorn hedges, salvias and sedums.

Barunah Plains homestead is an 1840s property located in Victoria’s Western District. Owner Damian Canny has lovingly restored the property and undertook most of the landscaping himself. The homestead was designed in 1866 by Scottish architects and features a striking octagonal room, wide verandahs and a rambling layout.

Lachie and Anise are the fifth generation of the Morrison family to call this bluestone homestead at Woolbrook in Teasdale, VIC home. The interior of the home has undergone many transformations over the years, but the couple have focused mostly on superficial changes like polishing floorboards, painting rooms and redecorating, to put their own stamp on the property.

Built in 1893, the homestead at Cloud River Farm in Tasmania is a heritage-listed beauty. It underwent a period-sensitive renovation in 2011 and is surrounded by fruit orchards, dams, a kitchen garden, multiple outbuildings and an expansive deck with sweeping views of the Huon River.

Anlaby Station is one of the grandest properties in the Barossa Valley. For four years, its owners spent their weekends flying from Sydney to South Australia to meticulously restore the property. Although most of the restoration is complete, the owners continue to find ways to make the property more sustainable and eco-friendly.

Just visible through the trees is Mylora Homestead, a majestic property in the village of Binalong, NSW. The homestead was immortalised in one of Banjo Paterson’s first published poems, The Mylora Elopement.

Ceres homestead is so grand that it once hosted Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh during his tour of Australia in 1867. To thank the hosts, Queen Victoria sent the gift of a vine cutting, which, to this day, still grows in the conservatory – named The Vine Hall – at the heart of the house.

Bold colour is heartily embraced at Mylor Farm, a renovated historic homestead that is splashed with bright hues and surrounded by leafy views. “The breeze, the quietness – it’s re-centring. You just feel at ease and grateful,” says one of the owners of the Adelaide Hills property.

Surrounded by an olive grove, a large vegetable garden, lawns and hedges, the sprawling homestead at Pincally Station is a leafy refuge during times of drought. “To come from outside into our garden and house is a comfort,” says owner Zanna Gale. For the last two decades, Zanna and her husband Matt have been renovating the property, but recently completed the kitchen and dining space.

A 12-month renovation of this classic homestead saw Jane McLaren and her family ‘camped’ in the house with few comforts. “We did everything to the house you could think of. It needed reroofing, replastering, wiring, replacing windows – and the verandah posts had to be redone,” she says.

Mawallok homestead may have been one of the earliest residential buildings to be constructed with reinforced concrete, but it’s the expansive garden that steals the spotlight.

Television presenter Bridget McIntyre often drove past this Tudor-style mansion as a child, and now, 30 years later, she calls it home. Since she purchased the property, she has improved the insulation, added contemporary wallpaper and reconfigured the upstairs bedrooms, “I wanted a classic look, but light and fresh, and the upstairs to be Hamptons-like.”

This charming homestead known as Mt Koroite was originally built in the mid-19th century. It is an amalgam of a humble farm build and grand Queen Anne style. Aesthetic imperfections only increase the home’s character and warmth.

The kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of Willow Farm homestead in Berry. The kitchen is the place where Amy Willesee and her daughters often gather to bake goodies for both special occasions and just for fun. Willow Farm also operates as an accommodation, wedding and event space.

Willeroo homestead has been in the Gundry family since it was first built over one-hundred years ago in 1905. When we visited the charming property back in 2018, it was home to Henry and Lauren Gundry, who continued restorations started by Henry’s parents, George and Erica. “George and Erica spent most of their lives getting the house back in shape,” says Lauren.

Terragong is now a renowned country bed and breakfast, but it was initially built as a private homestead in 1858. It is a classic example of Georgian architecture and stands out against other homesteads in the area, which were built in a Federation style.

The idyllic landscape that surrounds the homestead at Patterdale Farm in Tasmania once inspired the paintings of acclaimed artist John Glover. When we visited the farm back in 2018, the heritage-listed property was undergoing restoration, with the owners planning to add guest accommodation and begin an artist residency program.

Step inside Mount Mitchell homestead in Victoria and you’ll find not only a building steeped in history, but a warm, family home. “We live in all the rooms; it’s not a museum and we don’t want it to be precious,” says owner Kate Tol.

Situated in Adelaide’s wine country is a breathtaking 1860s-era homestead surrounded by spectacular, leafy grounds. “It’s our family home…where we can eventually watch our grandkids run around the garden,” says one of the owners.