Join the National Trust (ACT) to visit historic places around Yass. The coach which will pick up at Deakin (8.30 am) or Lyneham (9 am) and deliver us to our first stop at Cooma Cottage. This was the home of Australian-born explorer, Hamilton Hume and, as you probably know, it is a National Trust (NSW) property. It will be very interesting to see the restoration work completed last year. We will have guided tours and morning tea there.
The coach will take us into Yass for a short drive around some heritage sites and then stop for a delicious light lunch, provided by Clementine Bakery, Yass, at The Rose Inn. Convict built, it is the oldest home in Yass, built around 1837 and is part of the Yass historic precinct.
After lunch we head to Highclere Farm – the impressive 1895 homestead, formerly known as Blackburn, has a long and rich history. The estate spanned 60,000 acres and thrived during various Australian wool booms. It has been at the heart of the Yass community and the thriving Australian wool industry across more than two centuries and multiple generations.
Blackburn was built by George Weir in 1895. It is a good example of a substantial homestead with influences of the Victorian Italianate style. The house is unusually large for the district and demonstrates the success of its owner George Weir. You may recognise it from a recent episode of Restoration Australia! No doubt we will learn a lot more about its history, the work of restoring it and its current use from the owners Ed and Lee.
We will return to Canberra by approximately 5.10 pm at Lyneham and 5.30 pm at Deakin.
Cost: Members (National Trust, U3A and Friends of the National Library) $120 and non-members $130. Note that entry to Cooma Cottage is free for National Trust members (bring your membership card) and $12 for others (NOT included in tour cost so please come prepared if you do not have a National Trust membership card).
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/DEDLT
Cooma Cottage Rose Inn Blackburn
