Welcome to Ulinbawn, one of the early residences of the Blue Mountains. Ulinbawn retains much of its early appearance and character and is representative of a gentleman’s country residence of the mid Victorian era which has been home to many families over the years. It provides a significant window to the history of the district.

Ulinbawn is part of our heritage and is listed by the the National Trust, the NSW Heritage Council and the Blue Mountains City Council.

The first road across the mountains, built by Cox in 1815, made its arduous ascent of the escarpment only a few metres from where Ulinbawn was later to be built. It was abandoned in 1824 for an easier route. In the 1860s came the railway, which, by means of the Lapstone Zig Zag, established a practical transport route to the interior. Up to this time the mountains were an obstacle to be crossed, but with the comfort and ease of the train came an interest in the mountains in their own right as a place to visit or settle.

The Hon. John Lucas, MLA, was a colourful politician of the period who purchased from the Crown several parcels of land on the escarpment overlooking the Nepean River and Cumberland Plains. Lucas was interested in speculative development of the area and established three neighbouring country residences for the newly mobile Sydney gentry including one for himself. He acquired a ten acre property between the railway and the former route of Cox’s road in 1870 and it is believed that “Ulinbawn” was built here at this time. Of the three residences he built, there is no longer any trace of "Lucasville" which was lost to bushfire. The substantial house known as "Logie" was rebuilt in the 1920s as part of the art deco style Lapstone Hill Hotel which is now the Officer’s Mess of the Glenbrook RAAF base. Ulinbawn remains to remind us of these earlier times.

The name “Ulinbawn” has been associated with the house from the early times and is known to have a connection with the Doyle family who were early settlers at Sackville Reach and brought this name from their family home in County Wicklow, Ireland. Stories about the name being of aboriginal origin are not correct.

The house is constructed of local sandstone with welsh slate roof. Features include verandahs and large shuttered windows on the front and northern sides. Not much is known about the earliest years of the house but, it is said that with the opening in about 1877 of a nearby railway platform, known as Breakfast Point, the house became associated for a period with the serving of refreshments to the tourist trains which stopped at Breakfast Point to admire the panoramic views over the Nepean district.

Glenbrook's development in the 1870s and 1880s owed much to its new accessability and to its renowned climate, in those days said to be the finest in the colony. In the 1880s and 1890s Glenbrook was a small community with several boarding houses, It was a popular destination with visitors, particularly during the summer months.

Mr George Yeomans, a station overseer from the Walgett region, purchased the property in 1883 living here until the early 1900s. The painter Arthur Streeton, when residing in Glenbrook in 1891, described Mr Yeomans in a letter as "a squatter living here - by nature and religion a naturalist - is very nice to me - dined with them on Sunday - very nice people". Some extensions to the house were made to the “already comfortable dwelling” in 1885.

With the closure of the Zig Zag and relocation of the railway in 1892 the vicinity of Ulinbawn became more isolated, the only access being by a track leading to Mount Street.

Ulinbawn was leased and occupied by Donald and Thomas Skarratt from 1906 or earlier until Donald purchased it in 1910. He also purchased and moved into the nearby residence Mountside built 1885. Before this the Skarratts had come from Kington in England to the Mount Morgan goldfields in Queensland. Ulinbawn still remained in the family until 1965, it was tenanted throughout this period. A family named Wall resided at Ulinbawn from 1910 to the 1920s, Frank Wall was a telegraph operator for the railways. The coral tree must have been already well established. Two large palm trees grew at the front whilst there was an orchard of fruit and citrus trees to the rear of the house and a buggy shed. Nearby developments included the Lapstone Hill Hotel and Briarcliffe house.

Ulinbawn was known as the "Collegiate School" from 1923 for several years under the stern discipline of the headmaster, Mr Garnet Swift Durham. In those days Ulinbawn was home to Mr Durham, his wife, Elsie, their young daughter Roma, a young lady who taught French and about 12 boarders, not to forget the day pupils. It must have been cramped and the boarders, as was the custom, slept on the open verandahs. High educational standards were maintained stimulated by the threat of the stick weilding headmaster.

With the takeover of the nearby old Lapstone Hill Hotel by the RAAF after WW2, Ulinbawn was used to billet RAAF personnel. The kitchen was relocated to the main part of the house and a bathroom was added in the 50s or early 60s. The house otherwise changed little from its early years until the 1960s at which time the property was subdivided and the house, which suffered from age and neglect, awaited care and attention.

From the 1960s there have been renovations by various owners, yet the basic layout and appearance of the house remains much as it was in the early years. Significant changes were made in the 1970s by the then owners which, nevertheless, retained the essential features and charm of the house whilst making for a practical and liveable home.

The present owners enjoy the character of the house and are keen to know more of the stories it has to tell. We have put together a more detailed history of the house and would appreciate hearing any recollections, no matter how trivial.

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