Waymount Farm is steeped in local history which began over 110 years ago with the building of the Prince Of Wales Hotel in Nowra, NSW.
Built in the 1890's, the Prince of Wales Hotel along with the Albion Hotel on the opposite side of the main street long fulfilled the role of the dispatch and drop off of goods and passengers who made the lengthy horse and cart journey to and from Sydney. As a prominent landmark the Prince of Wales Hotel also proved a popular venue for local boxing bouts.
In the mid 1980's the Prince of Wales Hotel was demolished to make way for the building of the Commonwealth Bank which currently occupies the original site. At the time of demolition a prominent local solicitor purchased the original sand stock bricks and created a truly unique and contemporary house design with his brother, a qualified architect. In 1987, using the 100+ year old sand stock bricks as a major feature the family home was constructed on a 50 acre site on West Cambewarra Road and named Waymount Farm.
Combined with rich, imported oregon timber that is used in the construction of the expansive cathedral ceilings throughout the property, the old sand stock bricks contribute to a warm, inviting and grand country feeling.
The property was purchased by the current owners in 2002 who, retaining the original name given to the property, have undertaken loving restoration, turning the grand house into a luxurious country retreat and boutique conference facility that is Waymount Farm today.
The Prince of Wales Hotel and Federation in 1900
Leading up to Federation in 1900, Nowra and the Shoalhaven as a whole was narrowly divided over the issues surrounding Federation. In 1899, with amendments made to the proposed Australian Federal Constitution that favoured New South Wales, the township was still only narrowly in favour of their colony becoming part of "a nation for a continent."
As votes were counted, running totals were telegraphed around NSW from Sydney. In Nowra, Albert Ray, the licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel provided a crowd of interested locals a running tally of results via a large screen illuminated by acetylene gas from the verandah. The result from the vote of 20 June 1899 was: Yes 249, No 233.
In the Shoalhaven as a whole the vote was almost as close, with totals of 673 in favour to 622 against. As it became clear that NSW had voted in favour of Federating under the revised bill, a number of speeches were given from the balcony of the Prince of Wales Hotel, including one from Mayor Walter Blackmore, and a recitation of verse by a local boy, Dick McTernan.
A local wit also put down this verse, which represents the opinions of prominent local men on Federation, as was published in the Shoalhaven Telegraph, April 30, 1898.
Most men you meet upon the street
Have brows o'ercast with care
They've read the Constitution Act,
And chewed the Bill of Fare.
Opinions vary very much
On this perplexing Bill,
To put them in the Telegraph
Would half the paper fill.
Mark says this Act's a splendid one,
The best men ever made,
And he's got it off by heart,
To vote he ain't afraid.
Kennedy calls it a "blooming fraud
Which robs his native land".
"He'll take the biggest drum and jine"
The great Provincial Band.
Another thinks with Jamieson,
And means to thresh it out;
He says he "don't know where 'e are"
Or "what it's all about."
Hockley can neither read nor write,
And he holds it upside down,
But says he "Knows it quite as well
As half the folks in town."
Tobin objects to "Commonwealth"
Declares it is too thin,
And should be written Commonpelf,
Through sucking Cornstalks in.
M'Ternan this Ôtis premature,
ÔTwill set great storms a brewing,
While much inclined to lay the blame
On poor old Tommy Ewing.
Ray vows that it is cast iron law
Which beats the Medes and Persians,
And to prevent it he must make
All manner of exertions.
One reads it very rapidly,
Another very slow;
Some think they have the hang of it,
Who haven't got a show!
Tom says it "fills his utmost wish"
Dick says "twill never pass,"
Robert calls it "tommy rot,"
While Jim calls Bob an ass.
"Link" says we're like our Nowra clocks,
Which never do agree!
And if we get the votes required,
"May he be there to see!"
