Georgian Gem

A dilapidated 1830s property in western Sydney has polished up beautifully in the hands of two historical-home buffs.

- Chris Pearson

You shape your home and, thereafter, it shapes you. That’s especially true of Werrington House in western Sydney, an historic house that has cast its spell on owners Jennine Leonarder-Collins and Peter Collins, drawing them into its fascinating story.

In 2012, Jennine and Peter, a former NSW Opposition leader, were living on a rural property about five hours out of Sydney. Though they had a pied-a-terre in the CBD, they were weary of travelling between the two. This two-storey sandstone mansion just an hour from the city offered the best of both worlds. Three spacious bedrooms and 2ha of parkland sealed the deal.

Werrington House also fulfilled Jennine and Peter’s long-held wish for a heritage home. “We wanted somewhere with a sense of history,” says Peter. “We’d been looking at country homes outside of London and Edinburgh, then we chanced on this piece of England in western Sydney.” Adding to its allure, the early 1830s house had a beguiling history. It had been home to only two families, beginning with the daughter of the third governor of NSW and her husband, who moved out due to financial stress and leased it to politician Sir Henry Parkes from 1860 to 1872.