Woodfordleigh, William Kinnear and an unexpected connection to Pilot Hill

Some properties become more interesting the longer you spend with them.

Woodfordleigh is one of those homes.

When we began looking into the history of this River Street property in Ulmarra, we discovered it was built in 1881 by William Kinnear, a builder whose work can still be found across the Clarence Valley.

Then we found a connection we weren’t expecting.

Kinnear also built the original Yamba Lighthouse on Pilot Hill, the place our business takes its name from.

From billiards room to home

Woodfordleigh has had quite a life.

Built more than 140 years ago, it began not as a residence but as a billiards room.

Over the generations it evolved into the home that stands on River Street today, retaining the verandahs, timber detailing and character that speak to its age while becoming part of the fabric of the village around it.

It’s an unusual beginning for a home. Although after 140-odd years, perhaps you’re allowed to change your mind about what you want to be.

A builder whose work became part of the Clarence Valley

William Kinnear’s connection to Woodfordleigh is particularly interesting because his work wasn’t confined to Ulmarra.

His buildings became part of places across the Clarence Valley, including the original lighthouse at Yamba.

That lighthouse once stood on Pilot Hill, overlooking the coast and the mouth of the Clarence River.

More than a century later, that same place would give Pilot Hill its name.

We chose the name because of what Pilot Hill represents to this area. It is a familiar local landmark, a place with history and a connection to the river, coast and communities we work across.

We certainly didn’t expect one of our property campaigns to lead us back to the man who helped build part of that history.

The character of Ulmarra

Woodfordleigh’s story also says something about Ulmarra itself.

The village has held onto a remarkable amount of its history and character. Walk along River Street and you’re surrounded by buildings from another time, with the Clarence River never far away.

But the appeal of Ulmarra isn’t only architectural.

There is a warmth to the village that becomes apparent fairly quickly. It’s the combination of old buildings, local businesses, the river and a community that still feels connected to its place.

Woodfordleigh belongs naturally within that story.

A small piece of history coming full circle

Property research often starts with practical questions.

When was the home built? Who built it? What has changed over time?

Occasionally, the answers lead somewhere much more interesting.

For us, discovering that the builder of Woodfordleigh also built the original Yamba Lighthouse was one of those moments.

William Kinnear helped shape two places separated by kilometres and connected by the Clarence. More than 140 years later, a business named after one of those places has been given the opportunity to tell the story of the other.

A lovely little piece of Clarence Valley history coming full circle.