Vintage train journey to the Riverina

It’s been a while but we are heading off …..only a short trip but still exciting. I grew up in the Riverina district of NSW but haven’t been back since I left as a teenager.  Now we can see it together as more mature travellers 😀😂🤣😅.

Now how do the Vintage rail trips work? Well we get on the train, it heads to a rural town and you stop. Off you get and see something special at that location and then back on the train and onwards to the next town, The train stops overnight……less rattles and then you arrive in a new town next morning. The carriages are somewhat compact but you have a bathroom. This train is the original Southern Aurora from 1962-1986.

Today it’s Bowral and we are going to see Retford Park. Originally built and owned by the Hordern family ( think Anthony Hordern shops) and then sold to James Fairfax( newspapers). He did a little refurbishing with a designer of the 1990’s and it became his home.The carriages are somewhat compact but you have a bathroom.The house is described as a “Portuguese Pink” mansion and is a Victorian style house. It is pretty spectacular, don’t you think and the gardens…..wow.

James was a collector and supporter of art. Did you see the Drysdale, Blackman and the quirky works by Donald Friend….all contemporaries of James. Although each bedroom is a different colour , I would feel comfortable sleeping in any one of them though the green or blue would be my preference. Antiques are present but I still felt it was a home. Did you?

In the formal dining room are two large art works by Donald’s Friend. You obviously didn’t want to upset him or you may find yourself having a heated discussion with your partner. Can you identify the thoughts of these dinner guests? If I tell you Donald was somewhat vain, could you find him amongst the dinner guests.

Day 1 is almost complete so back to the bus and onto the train. It’s dinner time. See you tomorrow.