Historic Rainham offered For Public Sale For Only the Second Time Since 1832

One of Australia’s most historically significant homes, Rainham, will be offered for sale by Grant Maskill-Dowton, Director of Raine & Horne Bathurst, with a price guide of $2 million.

Built in 1832 by Captain Thomas Raine with the assistance of convict labour, this heritage-listed Georgian residence remains in remarkably sound condition for its age.

Offered on the public market for only the second time in nearly two centuries, Rainham presents a rare opportunity to secure an iconic piece of Australian history,” Mr Maskill-Dowton said.

Captain Raine, father of Raine & Horne co-founder Thomas Raine Jr, constructed the imposing rendered convict-brick home on an 80-acre landholding just five minutes from Bathurst.

Remarkably, Rainham has stood the test of time, retaining much of its original character and authenticity.

“Rainham is more than just a home — it’s a time capsule of colonial Australia,” Mr Maskill-Dowton noted.

“The property offers exceptional bones, while presenting a unique opportunity for buyers with a passion for heritage to further develop and imagine a truly historic estate."

Vendors Richard and Suzy Miller have worked ingeniously to breathe life into the many facets of this stunning heritage property.

Avoiding clunky and old-fashioned approaches to restoration and renovation, the vendors have attempted to treat the property as a work of art in its own right.

Through foregrounding the authenticity and beauty of the original house with its master-crafted woodwork and convict masonry, the Millers have created a home environment that treads a delicate balance between liveability, aesthetics and historical significance.

Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne

This approach ties in very much with growing international trends in heritage conservation, and photographs of the house have featured its unique warmth and character in several journals and magazines.

Glenn Murcutt, the internationally renowned Pritzker Prize winning architect visited Rainham recently, saying, “I thought that your house was wonderful and what you’ve done to retain its history, and your contribution to the furnishings - and garden- is an example of ‘best practice’ for those who take on buildings of such historic value. You’ve achieved such quality and it’s truly exotic which gives the richness achieved.”

A historic estate built by a famous explorer, merchant and pioneer

Captain Thomas Raine was already a nautical legend by the time he built Rainham. At 18, he was praised by Governor Macquarie for his humane leadership aboard the convict ship Surry.

When he sailed for Australia in 1814, a typhus outbreak left him the only surviving officer, yet he steered the ship safely to China for a homeward cargo, charting part of the Great Barrier Reef along the way — with Raine Passage and Raine Island still bearing his name.

For his efforts, Thomas Raine was promoted to captain by Governor Macquarie.

“He was a pioneering merchant, explorer, and pastoralist. And here, on the fertile soils of Bathurst, he built Rainham — a homestead that would shape local history for generations,” said Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne and great-great-grandson of Captain Raine. 

Rainham remained in the Raine family until 1854, just prior to the great Bathurst gold rush, when it was sold to the Boyd/Richardson families, who were the residence’s proud owners until 2012.

Rainham’s storied past includes stints as a gold rush inn, a hub for entrepreneur William Tremain of Tremain’s Mill fame, and it even had its own railway link in the mid-1800s. In 1969, it was recognised by the National Trust of Australia as a “home of historical interest”.

Other famous residents of Rainham include Andrew Murray, a member of the NSW Legislative Council for Parramatta. 

Rainham offers rare blend of heritage and lifestyle on 80 acres

Set on 80 acres of prime farmland with sweeping views towards Queen Charlotte Vale Creek and the Blue Mountains, the two-storey home features four generously sized bedrooms, original convict-built wings, cobblestone stables, and period joinery, offering buyers a unique mix of heritage and lifestyle potential.

Mr and Mrs Miller have enhanced the property’s water supply, and the original Southern Cross windmill has been restored, now functioning as a key part of Rainham’s extensive irrigation system.

Mr Maskill-Dowton explained, “They have installed new bores and water tanks, as well as discovered five of the property’s original convict-built brick water wells, ensuring an excellent water supply. They have also completely rewired the property.”

“The estate features solar power and fertile paddocks suited to grazing or lucerne, while its irrigated gardens, glasshouse, and shade house are framed by the timeless elegance of the homestead.”

“With its heritage significance, fertile farmland, and proximity to the Bathurst CBD, Rainham will appeal to history buffs, tree-changers, lifestyle buyers, or even commercial operators wanting to create something truly special.”