In moving to distinguish the Dubbo homestead and its surrounds from the nearby property ‘Dundullimal’, that’s set to be auctioned next month, the trust confirmed a major building extension made possible by a $84,000 grant from the Federal Government.

“The works we undertook with this was to extend the visitor/function centre located in the 1920s machinery shed,” a trust spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said a corrugated iron extension on the southern elevation of the shed mimicked the character of the existing annexe on the western side, and picked up details such as cypress pine exposed columns and corrugated iron cladding.

New glass doors and louvred windows had been installed on the north and south elevations, replacing large corrugated iron doors.

“This now provides an all-weather function and education space that opens up to the property and the surrounding pastoral views,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the trust would be developing “educational programs and function hire aspects” and “is certainly not selling the historic homestead and head station complex”.

The homestead was gifted to the trust in 1986 by the Palmer family, then owner of the property ‘Dundullimal’ that will be put up for auction on June 23. The property ‘Dundullimal’ is currently owned by Tom and Beryl Browne.