Emu Hall

Emu Hall was erected for James Tobias Ryan (1818–1899) between 1851 and 1854. Ryan was a butcher, pastoralist, politician and sportsman who was born near Penrith, New South Wales. From 1860 until 1872 he was the member for Nepean in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He was a jovial and popular parliamentarian but didn't aspire to a ministerial appointment. Ryan was well known as a sportsman and as a good boxer and crack pigeon shooter. He was also a race-horse owner and breeder as well as a gambling man. This led to his decline and on his death he was penniless.[2]

By 1881, the house was the last home of a wealthy grazier, John Brown, formerly of Canonba, who died there in 1888.[3][4]

The siting of the house in riverside grounds is indicative of a new wealthy class of family in the district during the mid-nineteenth century. As an historic house in a garden setting, it has landmark status on both the highway and river. It has a hipped corrugated steel roof and verandahs to the southern and eastern elevations with cast iron columns, decorative lace friezes and balustrading. Fenestration consists of large sashed windows and french doors. Newer dormer windows have been added to the roof. The house has an enclosed service yard and a free-standing service wing. Within the property there are brick stables and a derelict timber slab barn. In the garden, remnant plantings remain, including clusters of Jacarandas, Camphor Laurels and Bunya Pines.

• Australian residential architectural styles