Historic Bathurst homestead ‘Rainham’ selling for second time in 200 years

A Bathurst homestead built in 1832 by the grandfather of the founder of Raine & Horne has been offered for sale for the second time in almost two centuries.

Considered one of Australia’s most historically significant estates, 720 Vale Road, Orton Park, was built by Captain Thomas Raine, who was the grandfather of Tom Raine, who co-founded Raine & Horne with Joseph Horne in 1883.

Built with the help of convict labour, ‘Rainham’ has stood the test of time and during its lifetime it has served as an inn for gold rush travellers, a hub for entrepreneur William Tremain of Tremain’s Mill fame, and was linked directly to the railway line in the mid-1800s.

Set on a 3lha landholding, the six bedroom, one bathroom Georgian colonial manor has a price guide of $2 million.

Angus Raine, Raine & Horne executive chairman and great-great-grandson of Captain Thomas Raine said he was a pioneering merchant, explorer, and pastoralist.

“And here, on the fertile soils of Bathurst, he built Rainham — a homestead that would shape local history for generations,” he said

Rainham remained in the Raine family until 1854, just before the great Bathurst gold rush, when it was sold to the Boyd/Richardson families, who owned it until 2012.

In 1969, Rainham was recognised by the National Trust of Australia as a “home of historical interest”.

Sales agent Grant Maskill-Dowton, from Raine & Horne Bathurst said Rainham was more than just a home — it was a time capsule of colonial Australia.

“It is pretty unique, pretty special – it’s unique in lots different ways,” he said.

“The locality and acreage size is probably as unique as the building itself.

 “The property offers exceptional bones, while presenting a unique opportunity for buyers with a passion for heritage to further develop and imagine a truly historic estate.”

Vendors Richard and Suzy Miller bought Rainham in 2014 and have carried out meticulous restoration works and renovations to breathe new life into the homestead.

“When they bought it, it was in a very, very different state of repair,” Mr Maskill-Dowton said.

“It needed a lot of work just to make it habitable, and I think probably back then as well, although it is only 11 years ago, people weren’t as interested in older properties on that acreage size that close to town, whereas now it’s become a bit of a trend to have a good history.”

Enhancing the property’s water supply and restoring the original Southern Cross windmill, installing new bores and tanks and completely rewiring the residence are among the works the Millers completed.

“The estate features solar power and fertile paddocks suited to grazing or lucerne, while its irrigated gardens, glasshouse, and shade house are framed by the timeless elegance of the homestead,” Mr Maskill-Dowton said.

Interest in barely 24 hours of Rainham hitting the market has been strong, and Mr Maskill-Dowton said it would appeal to an array of buyers from history lovers, tree-changers, lifestyle buyers, or  even commercial operators.

“I think the standout appeal is that it is untouched in a cosmetic form (and) from that era to still be standing, in its own right is pretty amazing,” he said.

“It shows the calibre of the build, and I think that’s something that you really can’t appreciate unless you’re on site in the property.” The home is set for auction on November 6.

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