Durham Court, Manilla district offered after seven generation ownership

Durham Court, the Upper Namoi property held by seven generations of the Baldwin family, has been listed for sale.

The heritage landmark of the Manilla district is set for a November 30 auction through Purtle Plevey agents Patrick Purtle and Samuel Plevey.

Bidding is expected to exceed $2.5 million.

Listed for the first time, Durham Court has a grand, two-storey brick homestead dating from the 1870s on its 547 hectare land holding. 

It boasts six bedrooms, a formal lounge, dining rooms and staff quarters.

The house retains classic Victorian features such as cedar staircase and joinery, pressed-metal ceilings, marble fireplaces and fluted verandah columns.

When Otto Baldwin first settled in the early 1830s, the holding was around 80,000 hectares.

Originally named 'Diniwarindi', Otto settled when he and others were forced off their Liverpool Plains country when the 100,000 hectare 'Warrah' was given to the Australian Agricultural Company.

The name was changed to 'Durham Court' following the Crown Lands Act of 1884.

The Baldwin's were among the first to import breeding stock from Britain.

The subdivisions or the original station began in 1898 when 17 blocks were sold, followed by 50 more in 1908.

One of Manilla's most historic land holdings, Durham Court has most recently been run as Shorthorn cattle herd, currently number 200 breeders.