About
The Millhouse was built in around 1860 by the Anderson family, who were prominent land holders and industrialists in the area. Headed by matriarch Sarah Kirkland Anderson, the family comprised five brothers who emigrated from Scotland with Sarah between 1851 and 1854. They became key local figures with interests in gold, sawmilling and grain milling.
The family built The Millhouse at the same time that they were constructing the magnificent five-story Andersons Mill that sits alongside the house. Crafted from local bluestone, Andersons Mill is regarded as Australia’s most perfectly preserved heritage mill, and it’s easy to see why. The mill remains in near-original condition and The Millhouse offers magnificent views of this incredible example of Australia’s heritage.
About The Millhouse
An early photograph of Andersons Mill with The Millhouse in its infancy at the right of the image.
The Millhouse itself is a State heritage property and a beautiful example of Australian colonial architecture. Likely constructed with local wood from the family’s sawmill, The Millhouse sits on a gentle rise next to the mill, and features two long verandahs that stretch out on either side of the main entrance. The high-gabled central area of the house features classic Victorian decorative woodwork, and the interiors showcase the high ceilings and expansive spaces that were characteristic of the time.
The charming gardens feature original box and privet hedging alongside colonial cottage-style planting and a productive garden that provides produce for the homestead.
The Anderson family remained at The Millhouse for around 150 years, through five generations and all of the twists and turns that life offered up. The house was first sold out of the family in 2008, and present owners Rachel and Don Marshall purchased it in 2023.
Rachel and Don Marshall feel incredibly lucky to be the current caretakers of this beautifully piece of history. They’re head over heels for The Millhouse, and have been since the day they set eyes on her.
In fact, their own love story is intrinsically tied to The Millhouse - they were married here in 2023, and were so taken with this incredible property that when the opportunity arose to purchase it a few weeks after their wedding, they didn’t hesitate for a second. They still can’t quite believe they’re lucky enough to live here and they absolutely love sharing this beautiful place with others.
About Rachel
Rachel Marshall is chef and writer who is incredibly passionate about nature, the seasons and local, sustainably sourced produce. After running a restaurant in Sydney’s Newtown that showcased local, seasonal produce, Rachel’s fingers were itching for more space, big country skies and a patch of beautiful soil where she could grow her own food. She has found that at The Millhouse, along with the opportunity to curate beautiful spaces in a stunning heritage setting that feels like it was made to celebrate love.
You can read more about Rachel’s Sydney restaurant Hearth & Soul here, here and here.
About Don
After a successful leadership career in finance, Don too was feeling the call of the countryside, seeking space, serenity and a beautiful piece of land on which to create and nurture a garden. This is not his first rodeo with a historic house - he spent his teens and early twenties renovating houses with his mother, who had a beautiful eye and a knack for bringing forgotten spaces back to life.
Don is a skilled craftsman who not only works on The Millhouse’s beautiful spaces, but has created several custom pieces of furniture that sit in the house today. He also finds a lot of joy in caring for the outdoor spaces on the property, shaping the gardens and nurturing produce.
His strategic mind is the perfect foil to Rachel’s creativity and together they feel they’re the perfect team to be caring for this very special place.
About Rachel & Don
** Coming in May 2025**
The Millhouse is its own special world, where nature, the seasons, the gardens, the house and the gorgeous surrounding countryside are always offering up special experiences and stories.
From capturing life’s moments in the beautiful Australian countryside to sharing recipes, creating a garden, living out Rachel’s flower-arranging dreams and chronicling the comings and goings of our resident wallabies Howard and Leopold, Rachel and Don will be sharing all the behind the scenes goodness via social media and Substack.
This is all coming very soon - stay tuned for our Millhouse Life social and Substack links in May 2025. For now you can follow us on Instagram for beautiful content showcasing our spaces and our wedding offering.
Come behind the scenes of
Millhouse Life
