Oonooraba

Hidden behind mature trees, ‘Oonooraba’ is an architect-designed private home dating to 1892. It was designed by G H M Addison for James Stafford, who was mayor of Maryborough at the time. Stafford had practised as a solicitor in Maryborough from 1884. He originally purchased six acres from three different owners between 1889 and 1892. The house was named ‘Oonooraba’, after the Aboriginal name for the site and it overlooked a chain of water holes. The house had a fine circular lawn with a carriage drive around it, and Cook Island Pines on either side. The beautiful gardens were developed by C H Davies, previously responsible for the gardens at Baddow House when he worked for Edgar Aldridge. The timber house is high-set, on squared timber stumps, with a kitchen wing on the south-west side of the house. The house has bull nosed verandas supported by columns with curved brackets. The original cast iron balustrade was reportedly melted down to support the war effort during WWI. This is a private home and not publically accessible.