Features include a splendid mix of Georgian and Victorian architecture, a pear-tree-lined driveway, 1830's sandstone stables with original cobblestone flooring, wide sweeping verandahs with wrought iron columns, an in-ground pool and massive two hundred year old fig trees with breathtaking elevated views of the surrounding farmland.
Wallalong House is a rare piece of Hunter Valley colonial history, which survived remarkably intact in the same family for 172 years, right down to wide timber verandas, cedar skirtings in the rooms and a cluster of original bells used to summon servants.
Wallalong House itself, dating from 1826, with a smaller 1913 addition, is more than impressive. It sits hidden on a hill, encircled by sprawling fig trees and overlooking the flood plains of Hinton and Morpeth - with grand views to Maitland, Largs and the mountains at Broke and beyond.
Wallalong House has developed to become a most significant homestead in the Lower Hunter Valley. Built of locally made bricks, its L shaped plan with five verandas give it a graciousness which will never date. A single storey brick structure with stone quoins with two long wings at the rear forming a large grass courtyard, containing a cement covered well. The foundations are stone and the cellars are large, dry and airy. The majority of the rooms open onto verandas which makes the house cool in the summer. Iron pillars support the veranda roof and iron lace trims the cornice of the verandas. The cut stone for the facing of the homestead was all Balmain sandstone, which came up from Sydney as ship ballast in the heyday of river transport to Morpeth.
Jess Dunbar and Matt Price, of the Australian musical duo Jess and Matt, first met at music college, where they became best friends before it quickly turned into a relationship.
They exchanged vows on the grounds of Wallalong House in the Hunter Valley, where they would later host their evening reception. 'We really wanted to have a getaway weekend where our guests could come and let their hair down and stay out of town. The Hunter Valley is still so close to our home Sydney, but really feels like a different world from the city and you're transported to some of the most stunning landscapes we've ever seen.'
Jess says they chose the very first venue they visited. 'We didn't even need to say the words to each other, we both knew. It had everything we could have wanted.' Their evening reception was hosted in the elegant marquee at Wallalong House.
'We wanted the light to be warm to match the relaxed vibe in the room. We knew we always wanted a cocktail wedding that focused on a party vibe where everyone interacted and wasn't separated. We love that people aren't forced to sit with whomever we place them with; it encourages people to mingle and meet new people.'
Credit: Wedding photographer - Mathew Sacco, The Evoke Company.
Read the full story on Vogue Magazine.
To the amazing team at Wallalong House and Fennel & Co. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Wallalong House was the perfect setting for our special day. It is absolutely breathtaking. The outlook, the grounds, the reception space, the house - we loved it all! Everywhere you turn at Wallalong House there is a little piece of magic.,/P.
The food, the beverages, the staff - were all exceptional. Fennel & Co, you have an amazing reputation, and it is so well deserved. The banquet setting was like a big family dinner - just what we wanted.
We loved having you as part of our day! Thank you. Thanks so much.
- Shanna and Nik
© Wallalong House, Hunter Valley NSW
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