Goombargona Park at Nug Nug sold before auction after major renovation works by former owners

Situated on Goombargana Hill, the homestead was extended with the addition of a ballroom and expansive verandahs in the 1870s before the ballroom was demolished during the Great Depression and the home eventually vacated in 1957.

Clare Leeuwin-Clark, an artist, and her late partner of 36 years, Ian Black, inspected the uninhabited property in 1992 before agreeing to purchase and relocate it to Nug Nug to commence the lengthy restoration job.

A slight name change to the property from Goombargana to Goombargona also took place when its original spelling was discovered in documentation dating back to the 1860s.

It was due to be auctioned by agents Corcoran Parker on Wednesday, but the homestead with five bedrooms, two bathrooms and wide verandahs set on 41.2 hectares sold to a Melbourne family beforehand for $1.7 million.

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Ms Leeuwin-Clark said Ian, who grew up in Corowa, was aware of the homestead from his childhood and largely drove its massive renewal.

"Thirty years ago we decided to go and have a look at it," she said.

"We were just amazed that such an amazing house was just sitting there and had been empty for 50 years.

"Ian said 'it should be saved', but I didn't realise it would be us saving it.

"The first job was obviously to move a very old, fairly fragile house 100 kilometres away to a totally different climate.

"It is sad because we did so much work here together and was such a journey to do it.

"But obviously we've had a lot of help and it's been a real team effort."

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