By Jen Barwick
From politicians to princes, poets and possibly even a saint, Yallum Park is a beautifully preserved Victorian stone home, near Penola, that boasts quite a history.
Its current caretakers are the Clifford family, namely Andy and wife Anne, with the help of son Darren. But Yallum Park began its life as the home of pastoralist John Riddoch, who established the Coonawarra Fruit Colony and inspired the region’s now famous winegrape connection.
The Scotsman had made his riches on the Victorian goldfields and decided to build a home worthy of his new status as a Member of Parliament and wealthy land owner.
Started in 1878 and finished two years later, the two-storey home was made from locally quarried sandstone and among its Victorian furnishings it boasts 11 Italian marble mantle pieces, several bronze gasoliers, 500 pounds worth of gold leaf, cedar banisters, iron balustrades and cut-glass doorknobs.
And, much of it remains in mint condition today.
As Andy guides you through the lower floors of the home (available for viewing, by appointment), he points to pieces of furniture, original wallpapers and design features, rattling off dates and unique details.
Such as, the hallway wallpaper painted with goose feathers and cut into squares to resemble marble. Or, the 12-foot high and 4-foot wide stained-glass window, made at the White Friars Factory by Powell & Co in England, and transported by boat in a crate of molasses.
Andy’s grandfather, William Clifford, bought Yallum Park and farmland – about 2250 acres in total – in 1914, 13 years after Riddoch’s death.
“My father was born in the front room and lived all his 95 years here. I think the importance and history of this place was always acknowledged and both mum and dad became passionate historians,” Andy said.
“I’ve just started cataloguing all dad’s books on local history and in just two rooms I’ve counted some 1700 books so far.”
Those records show Riddoch’s good mate, poet and fellow, Adam Lindsay Gordon was a regular visitor to Yallum Park.
“We also know that in 1881, Prince George and Prince Albert stayed a night at Yallum Park – they would have been around 16 and 17 years of age.”
The saint connection is, admittedly, a little more tenuous. Penola, about 10km from the Yallum Park property, is the spiritual birthplace of Mary Mackillop – Australia’s only saint. Mackillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866 in Penola.
“We can’t say for sure she visited here, it was before the home was built, but it’s possible she may have walked around this area,” Andy says kindly, placating the need of this writer who wanted to include a saint into the story!
When William Clifford first bought the house most of the original furniture had been sold off, with just a few of the original chairs remaining.
Over the years, the Cliffords have tracked down several of the original pieces, including the English oak Georgian dining table and 12-foot billiard table, built in 1846.
“My grandfather found the original dining table in storage in Adelaide during the war and the billiard table was bought back from a Billiard House in Millicent.”
Yallum Park might be the grandest building on the property but it isn’t the oldest. At the rear of the house, a cottage built in 1840 by the original property owners – a Solomon, Josiah and Thomas Austin – still stands. So does part of the property’s second home, built by Thomas and Harry Wells in 1853.
“We believe most of the garden – about 5 hectares – was established around 1880 and includes 70 different types of conifer,” Andy said.
“Between the house and the property [the Cliffords also run a working cattle property] it’s safe to say we’re never short of a job to do.
“Looking after something like this, doesn’t come without its challenges and costs but hopefully it’s a job the family will continue doing for quite some time.”