FROM 1903 Miss Nellie C Brenan operated Arrankamp, an exclusive boarding house and farm on Centennial Rd, Bowral. By the 1920s she was in her sixties and a well-known local identity. Her remarkable life continues here.

Her garden produced flowers for some of the leading flower shops in Sydney and for local flower shows, weddings and other special occasions.

In January 1926 the Sydney Morning Herald reported that a successful gymkhana, organised by Clive Ogilvy, was held In the grounds of Arrankamp. The majority of the events were arranged for children, and attracted a large number of entries. Miss Brenan provided picnic tea for the visitors.

In September that year the Southern Mail reported that "Miss Brenan achieved a decided success with her sale of flowers from Arrankamp in aid of the Cancer Research Fund. The boronia and daffodils found ready sale, over 21 pounds being realised."

Later that year the paper advised that the Country Women's Association had arranged for the veterinary officer testing Miss Brenan's herd to meet those desiring further information as to the tuberculin testing of cattle and to explain the Government's offer to test herds supplying milk for public consumption.

Mr Hutcheson, the veterinary officer doing the work, afterwards expressed himself as more than satisfied with the healthiness of the Arrankamp herd, which he considered one of the best to which he had applied the test.

During 1928 building works were undertaken at Arrankamp, most probably an addition on the roof of the guesthouse to provide extra accommodation with a fine view.

In 1929 Miss Brenan offered for sale a further "four splendid home sites, from 1 to 3 acres, adjoining the famous Craigieburn and Arrankamp boarding establishments". This sale reduced her holdings to some 170 acres.

An article titled 'Life work of a devoted gardener' appeared in the Southern Mail in November 1930. It began by saying that "hidden away behind the outbuildings at Arrankamp, Bowral, is one of the most beautiful gardens in this district, which means that it is one of the most beautiful in the Commonwealth. It is a monument to the courage and energy of a devoted lover of Nature, Miss N C Brenan".

Smith's Weekly published an appreciation of her life in 1934. It commenced by stating that "for over 30 years Miss Brenan has lived at Arrankamp. She went there in the rich years of her life.

Today she is over seventy, though strangers would not suspect it, and even lifelong friends of hers, such as the Horderns, the Fergusons, and the Gordons, have to remind themselves constantly that the white-haired lady who has planted a garden there, tells the truth when she tells her age.

She made a reputation for herself as a business woman and as the best guardian of the young generation during its school holidays that society mothers have yet discovered".

The Southern Mail reported in February 1940: "The recent tennis tourney and dance, organised by Mrs Ling and Mr H Springett Jr, realised the sum of 57 pounds for the Red Cross. Miss Grant helped swell the funds by holding a juvenile tennis tournament at Arrankamp through the courtesy of Miss Brenan."

FROM the 1930s Miss Brenan was caught up in moves by Bowral Council to extend the nearby golf links. She offered the Arrankamp Estate for sale in 1940 as a going concern.

The guesthouse was described as consisting of a lounge and dining room (seating 50) and 25 bedrooms, plus staff quarters, garages and tennis court. No buyer took up the offer and Nellie continued there until her death in 1945. She was 84 years of age.

The Southern Mail paid tribute to her in an obituary, including: "She was a lover of all that is beautiful in Nature, and her garden at Arrankamp for nearly half a century was one of the beauty spots of the district, made even more beautiful by the presence there of the great lady who loved to share its glories. Flowers from her garden went regularly to St Jude's and to most of the local institutions."

After her death, Bowral Council bought the Arrankamp property and for a time it continued to operate as a guesthouse, advertised along with the adjoining golf course. In 1948 Arrankamp's bungalow cottage became the clubhouse for the newly formed Bowral Country Club after it extended its holdings to include the former estate.

At some stage during the 1950s the guesthouse building was demolished.

For seventy years Arrankamp had been one of Bowral's finest gems.

This article compiled by PHILIP MORTON is sourced from the archives of Berrima District Historical & Family History Society, Bowral Rd, Mittagong.

Phone 4872 2169.

Email bdhsarchives@gmail.com

Web: berrimadistricthistoricalsociety.org.au