Exciting part of Orange’s history for sale

One of Orange’s grand historic homes is on the market and Orange City Life took the opportunity to have a peek inside this beautifully maintained heritage property.

Believed to have been built about 1875, “Mena” or “Killiney” as it was originally known, was the home of Thomas Garrett Dalton, the son of James Dalton of Duntryleague.

The Dalton family’s influence on Orange cannot be overstated. Starting out as storekeepers, supplying the gold miners of Lucknow, the Daltons built a massive commercial and pastoral empire, stretching from the Western districts to the wharves of Sydney.

The Dalton Bros. storefront in Summer Street, the Australia Cinema, and the remains of the once massive flour mill in Peisley Street stand tribute to their many thriving commercial enterprise.

“They became extremely wealthy, they would have been a little like the Packers of today,” said Robert Bruce, local photographer and great grandson of James Dalton of Duntryleague.

“They developed a very big rural empire, particularly out at Kangaroobie, Ammerdown and all over the place so they had a huge amount of properties and James built numerous houses in Orange for his children.”

Thomas, or “Gatty”, was the oldest of James’s seven sons and became managing director of the Dalton Bros enterprises and flour mills. He was an active townsman and three-time mayor of Orange and lived at the “Mena” until his death in 1911.

The name “Mena” was given to the Kite Street home during the 1930s when it was used as a hospital.

“In fact, I was born in “Mena” and my brother,” said Robert, who has been pleased to the see the home now restored to its former glory.

“They've done a great job, it is like a museum really, it is an extraordinary house. These homes are part of the heritage of the town, part of the history of the town”

This stunning home is on the National Heritage list and, as you can see, is a tremendous example of Australian Victorian architecture and one intertwined with the history of Orange.

“Mena” is being sold by One Agency Orange.