50 Ryrie Street

Braidwood NSW 2622

This spectacular granite fieldstone Inn was built by Braidwood's first Clerk of Court Patrick Goulding in 1856, on a prominent rise one block back from Braidwood's bustling main street. Modelled on a rural Irish Inn of the early 19th century, Tidmarsh features stunning local granite walls ranging in colour from light grey to pink and yellow. The steeply pitched roof has dormer windows and was beautifully restored thirteen years ago with hand cut blood wood shingles and lead flashings. With fourteen rooms, including a fine entrance hall, drawing room, library, study, original 1850s bar, breakfast room, gourmet kitchen and three generous bedrooms, Tidmarsh has undergone an intensive conservation program since 2000 and is now restored very precisely to its appearance and condition of around 1860. The property was awarded the National Trust's 2004 State Prize for best conservation, testimony to the meticulous quality of the restoration.

Extensive shingled verandahs and breezeways surround the rear and side of the house provide lovely quiet corners for reading and entertaining. The windows have been restored retaining 19th century glass and with correct fine moulded sashes and deep chamfered sills. Within the house, all plumbing and wiring is new and has been sympathetically concealed. Features include lath and plaster ceilings, stunning original 12" deal floorboards, original polished cedar fireplace surrounds and fitted bookcases, fitted library bookcases with sliding ladder, a beautiful "winder" staircase and a 1920s style bathroom using original antique fittings all restored to fine condition and incorporating the best modern gas and electric facilities. The large country kitchen is equipped with all modern features, gas and electric hob and oven, fitted cupboards, drying cupboard and sunny window seat.

The main downstairs rooms feature beautiful wainscot panelling copied from a surviving sample. The rooms are finished in original 1850s colours taken from scrapings. The bar has been restored to represent the original tap room of the 1850s Inn and has a magnificent cedar counter and fitted shelves. The breakfast room, created in the 1890s, features a cathedral ceiling, cedar fireplace with combustion stove and French doors onto the verandah.

Upstairs, the winder staircase opens onto a pretty landing with French doors onto the verandah, and stunning six panel cedar doors into the three bedrooms. The huge north bedroom has three windows looking over the shingled roof and village to surrounding countryside, with a sunny window seat and fitted cupboards. The central guest bedroom has a charming dormer ceiling and views to the east, and the very large south bedroom features two windows with rural views, French doors to the balcony and a fine cedar fireplace with combustion stove. Heating is by wood fire and all chimneys have been restored and fitted with new flues, dampers and hearth equipment making every room a cosy and inviting spot.

THE BARN ....The traditional wood framed barn was reconstructed in 2003 using scaled designs from the 1860s building which had been demolished in the 1930s. Measuring 18m by 6m, the six bay barn uses massive timbers with traditional knee bracing and mortised joints. The huge downstairs room is currently used as a spectacular antiques gallery and has previously housed a collection of 14 vintage cars and a workshop. It could alternatively be converted to a grand living area or guest accommodation. Upstairs a large studio, office and store room have two balconies and pretty dormer ceilings and windows. The upstairs area was designed to easily convert to a studio apartment for teenagers or guests. Above this is a large glazed lantern tower with amazing views of the surrounding town and landscape. The barn has been an established and well-known antique business for the past 11 years... 'Longbarn' & 'String' and home of 'Stringalong' small group French tours. It has been regularly used for exhibitions and local events and is easily accessed by the gatehouse and side entrance, making Tidmarsh a perfect home for art or antique dealers, artists or craftspeople looking for a stunning residence with gallery attached.

THE GARDEN......features beautiful established trees, wisteria, grapes, vegetable gardens, chicken coop and woodshed and is entered through a covered gatehouse. The north garden has a charming gravelled courtyard warmed by the impressive northern stone wall of the house.

The village of Braidwood and the surrounding countryside is protected under the NSW State Government's Heritage Office as being of exceptional historical interest and scarcity, giving residents surety as to how the future development of this beautiful area will be managed. While the street facades of each building are protected, there are no restrictions other than normal Council DA requirements on interiors or grounds, and the town is "village" zoned making it possible to use buildings in many private or commercial ways subject to usual Council requirements.