Gundy - Places to See

The Scenic Drive
Access to Gundy is either out of Scone or along Segenhoe Rd which heads east off the New England Highway 2 km north of Aberdeen. If you have taken the latter route, turn left after 5 km when you come to an intersection and proceed straight ahead for a further 18 km, ignoring the signs to Lake Glenbawn (see entries on Aberdeen or Scone).

If travelling from Scone, Gundy Rd heads east off the highway at the southern end of town. The drive takes you through green and pleasant countryside, through tiny villages which have remained virtually non-existent since they emerged last century in the wake of the settlement of Scone and the subsequent discovery of gold.

The road passes two turnoffs to Lake Glenbawn, Arrowfield horse stud (7.5 km) and Bellerive Stud (8.7 km). The proximity of mountains to the north, south and east affirms that this is indeed a valley. At 15.7 km the road runs adjacent the Pages River into the to the village of Gundy which is 18 km from Scone.

Gundy
As you enter the town from the south there is a bridge across the Pages River. Just before it is a dilapidated old Catholic Church of unknown vintage. The property of Bellevue, which gave its name to the village, lies behind the church. The homestead (c.1872) is a couple of hundred yards off the road on private property.

Just past the bridge, on the left, is the Linga Longa Inn (which has a restaurant). Another hundred yards along the road, to the right, St Matthew's Anglican Church which was built in 1869 and is still standing.

Elmswood
A few kilometres north is a sign reading 'Elmswood American Saddlebreds'. Miranee Rd heads off to the left here and takes you across the Pages River. Just on the other side, to the right, is a two-storey brick mansion with bay windows owned by journalist and radio broadcaster, Phillip Adams. 700 m further west on Gundy Rd is Waverley Rd which departs to the left. Mrs Gundy's Inn was located along this route which is today in a poor state of repair.

Belltrees
About 12 km beyond Waverley Rd is a turnoff on the right to Belltrees (established 1831), an 18 000-acre horse, sheep and cattle property and an excellent example of a colonial country seat. It was built on land granted to Hamilton Sempill who became the manager of the Segenhoe property in 1830. He named Belltrees after the English estate of an ancestor.

When Sempill returned to England the property passed on to explorer W.C. Wentworth who sold the property in 1853 to the sons of James White of the Edinglassie estate (Muswellbrook). By 1912 it covered 160 000 acres, was enclosed by 3200 km of fencing and incorporated 64 buildings. Nobel-Prize-winning novelist Patrick White used Belltrees, which his parents owned, as the basis for Kudjeri in his novel The Eye of the Storm (1973). The property is still owned, run and occupied by the White family who raise Belltrees Black Angus cattle and polo ponies. The property doubles as an exclusive holiday resort .

As you enter the estate off Gundy Rd a dirt drive leads past a number of outbuildings. To the left, set back from the road, is the gracious, two-storey brick homestead, which was built in 1907 by Henry White. It features a fine cast-iron verandah on the upper floor, projecting gables from the front roof section, elegant columns, shuttered windows, Edwardian furniture and an impressive staircase.