Saumarez Homestead, Edwardian mansion in Armidale, Australia.
Saumarez Homestead is a substantial mansion with 30 rooms spread across two stories, furnished with period pieces and decorative objects from the Edwardian era. The rooms display how the wealthy family lived and the objects and design styles that surrounded them.
The property was established in 1834 when Lieutenant Colonel Henry Dumaresq founded it and named it after his family's estate in the Channel Islands. The building was later modernized around 1906 with updated systems and infrastructure.
The Heritage Rose Garden draws visitors during late spring and early summer when traditional rose varieties flower in full display. The carefully tended beds show how gardens were designed in this era and which varieties the family valued at the time.
Guided tours through the furnished building operate on Sundays, while the gardens are open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM. It helps to check ahead which areas are accessible on your visit day.
The house retains its original hot water supply and gas lighting from 1906, showing how wealthy households used technical systems at that time. Such preserved installations are rare and offer an uncommon look at early residential comfort technologies.
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