Last month’s article on the Arms of Australia Inn revealed confusion over these two separate buildings. Mortimer’s House is to be found only a few doors away, having been home to the innkeeper, John Mortimer, and his family from the early 1840’s. The house features one of Australia’s earliest styles of architecture, sometimes referred to as Colonial Vernacular or Colonial Georgian.
Joseph Barrow Montefiore, (after whom Montefiores village, Wellington, is named) first owned this property in 1832-1833, on-sold it to William H Mackenzie (1833 or 1834), who then sold it to Mortimer in the early 1840’s. It was surmised for many years that Mortimer had the house built, however this does not match the architecture which shows that it is highly likely that the front half was built around the early 1830’s (or earlier) and the other half added in Mortimer’s time. Recent discoveries, historical and physical, seem to support this.
The house features ashlar stonework, which is in perfect condition, across the front of the building. It is built of solid 18 inch thick sandstone likely from two different quarries, due to the two different times of the build. This home still stands solidly showcasing the beautiful polished, grey gum, wide-boarded timber floors, and unique but simple architecture. Several of the window panes have the original glass with its slight waviness and tiny creasing showing the rolled-glass techniques used in their day.  Walking into the front rooms, seeing the floors, architecture, and swagged windows, one feels transported into another time.
The flagstones across the front of the property are still in excellent condition, no doubt due to protection from the wide wrap-around verandah which also serves to keep the house naturally cool in the summer. One of the original fireplaces is still in use, but sadly the other was removed many decades ago. Slow combustion fireplaces now warm the home adding to its charm.
There is also a hand-built well on the property which is over 10m deep, featuring brick lining for most of its depth.
Over the years very few families have owned the house.   For several decades the Gow family owned it, running a small business at the front. Many locals still recall buying their sweets from Mrs Gow on their way to school. It has also been a butchery and a parsonage.
More recent years have seen the current owners, of more than 20 years, removing unsympathetic features, lovingly restoring, renovating and rebuilding, thus bringing the entire house into a seamless blending of the old and new. These days it is a beautiful, large 5/6 bedroom family home, with large living areas,  sitting graciously on spacious park-like acreage barely noticed by passers-by and in almost perfect silence from the busy world outside its gates. This remains one of the Penrith region’s best kept secrets and havens, well loved by all who come to take in another world that is slowly being forgotten, but nevertheless longed for.

Penrith Council Mayor Kevin Crameri with Kelsie Brodribb and Matt McAlpine

On Monday 2 August, Emu Plains Public School was represented by Kelsie Brodribb and Matt McAlpine in a “mock” council meeting held in the chambers of Penrith Council. There were fourteen primary students from various schools in the local area all learning about the formal part of council business.
Sitting in the councillors actual seats in the chamber, being mentored by actual councillors and using special microphones, they debated two items of business, the closure of a laneway and the expenditure of $1 million dollars of ratepayers money on cycle ways.
The Emu Plains representatives acquitted themselves exceptionally well in the “mock” debate….even getting job offers when they get a bit older!!
It was a great privilege and wonderful experience to be involved.

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The suburb of Leonay takes its name from the riverside property of the well-known Australian wine grower Hermann Paul Leopold Buring – better known as Leo Buring – and his wife Ida – nicknamed Nay. Leo and Nay purchased the 376 acre Edinglassie Estate for 2200 pounds and built a house, combining their names to call it Leonay. They described their home as “so beautiful here with the Nepean River in front and the mountains at our back door, with an abundance of emus and wallabies”.  Here they developed a commercial vineyard and around 1936 the Burings built a 19-hole golf course on their property.
Hermann Paul Leopold (Leo) Buring was born 7 October 1876 in Adelaide South Australia. In 1896-7 he studied at Geisenheim Viticulture College, Rhine Germany and in 1898 attended the Viticultural College at Montpellier in France. From 1898 to 1930 he was successively manager of Alex Prentice Wine Cellars, Rutherglen Victoria, Hans Irvine Cellars Victoria, Minchinbury Wine Cellars, NSW and governing director of Lindemans Ltd. In 1930 he set up his own business at Ye Olde Crusty Wine Cellars in George Street Sydney. In 1931, he formed Leo Buring Pty Ltd. This company was later made a subsidiary of Lindemans Ltd.
Between December 1837 and May 1939 Leo Buring was an alderman on the Blue Mountains Council.
Leo’s work in the wine industry was renowned worldwide and he was well-respected throughout Australia. Over the years the Buring’s entertained many well known guests including on 1 August 1948 Sir Laurence Olivier and wife Vivian Leigh.
Most of ‘Leonay’ was sold for housing development upon the death of Leo Buring at the age of 85 years in 1961. Nay however continued to live in the house until her death.

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Matt McAlpine and Kelsie Brodribb

Penrith City Mayor Kevin Crameri OAM has selected a student to be ‘Junior Mayor’ and another 14 students as ‘Councillors’  to participate in a mock Council meeting and discuss a topic in depth during Local Government Week in August.
The competition was open to all primary school students who reside in and attend school in Penrith City. The theme this year was “Building a Brighter Future” and students were asked to tell us what they think their local suburb will be like in the year 2050. Students had to describe their thoughts on one A4 sized page. The entry could be written as a story or poem, drawn, or as another format.
Clairgate Public School’s Ethan McKay was selected as Mayor. He will get a taste of what it’s like to be Mayor while wearing replica Mayoral robes at the mock meeting.
The other 14 students selected to be Councillors for the day will each be teamed with a Councillor, who will guide them as they participate in the Council meeting.
Matt McAlpine and Kelsie Brodribb have been selected from Emu Plains Public School. Tony Best, Principal of Emu Plains PS says “ They are great children and wonderful ambassadors for our school in many ways. We are very proud of them.”

What is this?

Residents of Emu Plains will be in for a surprise on Sunday, July 18 when the NSW Corps of Marines put on a display of musketry at the William Cox Festival and Open Day at the Arms of Australia Inn, corner of Great Western Highway and Gardenia Ave, Emu Plains, starting at 9.30am.
The NSW Corps of Marines will be keeping order – and floggings will be handed out to those who misbehave! During the day they will perform re-enactments from the lives and times of the First Fleeters after the raising of the flag ceremony. the Oiena Pchilka branch of the Ukrainian Womens’ Association will entertain with a short program of dance, performing in their colourful Ukrainian embroidered costumes. They will also have a stall selling Ukrainian pastry and a display of Ukrainian artefacts.
The 5th Light Horse Regiment will demonstrate a troop drill and the Australian Heritage Dance Company will be performing at the festival for the first time at the festival.
Children can join in old fashioned games, pet animals in the animal farm and this year get up close to live reptiles from the Herpotological Society. They can jump to their heart’s desire in the jumping castle, get their face painted, try their hand in the old school room, take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine’s train or ride on a pony and much more.
The biggest tug-of-war in the Nepean Valley will take place in the afternoon and teams will vie for the chance to beat last year’s winners – under the control of the Marines, of course.There will be plenty of displays, food, music, stalls, entertainment and activities, both old and new.
The festival commemorates the day William Cox started the road across the Blue Mountains in 1814.