Bathurst Aero Club launched into 2009 with our first fly away to ‘The Iandra Castle’, a large, historic and extremely interesting property southwest of Cowra. January 25, was a typically hot summer’s Sunday when 19 club members and friends made the trip, some by air and others by road.

Activity started at the airfield about 8am with Ed Collins, Kevin Wilkins and Lesley Bull travelling in Ed’s Archer VH-NTP; Brian Harvey and Kathy Alexis in the 152 VH-PJG; John and Judy Nichol in Jabiru 5556; Chris and Julie Stott in Jabiru 5555; Tony Norris and Geoff Parsons in Geoff’s Victor VH-BWG and John Marston and Errol Chopping in the club’s C172 VH-BAC. Flight director Brian Harvey had given us heading and distance information and briefed us on the schedule for the day and we all departed without incident around the same time in the morning, heading southwest for Iandra. Everyone arrived in good time except Errol and John who spent an extra 20 minutes looking for the location, but with the wind favouring runway 09 we were all safely on the ground and parked quite close to the castle by about 10am.

The Iandra property has an interesting history being first established by Mr George Greene in 1878 and extending to 32000 acres. It was the location of the first commercial plantings of William Farrer’s famous ‘Federation’ wheat and famous also for George Greene’s innovative ‘Iandra Sharefarming Agreement’. Under this agreement, Greene supplied the land, seed and two thirds of the fertilizer and each sharefarmer supplied plant and labour to work the land, taking half the crop at harvest. This scheme was largely responsible for the prosperity of the region and the eventual establishment of the nearby town of Greenethorpe.

Even considering the impressive agricultural history, it is the castle building itself which fascinates most visitors. This huge house, made of reinforced concrete, certainly looks like a castle, with two stories, multiple lofts, bay windows, a large dining room, sitting rooms, billiards room and lots of bedrooms many having ensuite bathrooms and balconies. There is also an imposing ‘keep’ and observation tower. It was completed around 1911 just as George Greene passed away. The house surroundings include extensive gardens, a water and storage tower, a church, stables, historic manager’s residence and machinery buildings.

There is a strong connection between Iandra and Bathurst Aero Club. David Morris, a more recent owner of the property was a flying member of BAC several years ago and used his C182 to fly between Iandra and a second property at Rylstone, often calling in at the Bathurst club rooms on the way. Long serving club members can remember attending dinners in the Iandra castle, using the large dining room there as David Morris’s guests.

On the Sunday of our visit we were met by Margaret Collins and Lesley Buckley who had made the trip by road. Matthew Millet and wife Gabby with Austin and Claire also visited and we all shared a fantastic picnic style lunch on the shady castle veranda before making our way back to Bathurst.

Map of Iandra Location:
S34, 04', 47" (S34.079785) | E148, 21', 36" (E148.36019)

View of Iandra from 1000ft

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