EXQUISITE scenery greeted eager cricketers at the historic 'Thornthwaite' property near Scone on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
A modest but enthusiastic crowd gathered for a recreation at the site where the first photograph of a cricket game was taken in the 19th century.
The picture had been captured by Joseph Docker, who was described as a real “renaissance man”.
“He was a doctor, painter, interested in the arts, designed the house, and was also essentially one of Australia’s first photographers,” relative Janet Merewether said.
“I’m a film-maker and both myself and some of my cousins are still very interested in photography, so that’s a nice kind of connection.
“I think he just experimented with the arts and agriculture and several of us in the family are also interested in similar pursuits.”
‘Thornthwaite’ is currently owned by the Paspaley Group.
It was the location where the first wine grapes in the district were planted in the early 1800s.
The property also provides the breeding ground for 2000 head of quality Hereford beef cattle, producing up to 900 steers and 900 heifers each year.
‘Thornthwaite’ was a remarkable time capsule, and Paspaley undertook significant restoration to the range of historic buildings on the property, including a sandstone homestead, cottages, stables, a woolshed, a dairy and a winery.
