MEDIA RELEASE I!
VISIT BY THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES
( Statement by the Acting Prime Minister,
The Rt. lion. J. D. Anthony, C. H. M
I announced on 7 December that at their request, The Prince
and Princess of Wales, accompanied by Prince William, would be
provided with a home base in New South Wales during their visit
to Australia in March and April 1983.
The base will be at Woomargama, a property north of Albury,
which is owned by Mr and Mrs Gordon Darling, of Melbourne.
Mr and Mrs Darling have kindly agreed to make their house
available to the Royal party for the duration of the visit, from
21 March to 17 April.
As 1 stated previously, the purpose of the base is to
provide the Royal couple with an opportunity for rest, without
official engagements and in complete privacy, between their
visits to each State and Territory. Prince William will remain
at Woomargama for the duration of the visit to Australia.
Canberra 19 December 1982
*( note to media: background paper attached)
Background Note
MEDIA VISITS TO WOOMARGAMA
Mr and Mrs Gordon Darling have agreed to allow Media
representatives to visit their property, WOOMARGAMA, on
Wednesday 22 December 1982.
As announced by the Acting Prime Minister today,
WOOMARGAMA, north of Albury, is to be the home base for
The Prince and Princess of Wales during their visit to
Australia in March and April 1983.
Mr and Mrs Darling will be at the homestead on 22 December
to meet Media representatives. Photography wil] be
permitted only of the grounds and the outside of the
homestead. Please note that this will be the only opportunity for
Media representatives to inspect the property and
Mr and Mrs Darling will not be available for interviews
prior to 2.2 December.
Media representatives who want to visit the property must
notify CHRIS FREEMAN, Assistant Media Liaison Officer for
the visit of The Prince and Princess of Wales, on
02-569 3365 at the weekend, 02-239 3439 or 02-239 3434 on
Monday 20 December or 060-21 5366 on Tuesday 21 December.
Mr and Mrs Darling have agreed to have two Media inspectio..
on 22 December, one at 9.30 a. m. and another at 2.00 p. m.
Transport Arrangements
Media representatives can either drive direct to the
property which is off the Hume Highway approximately
kilometres north of Albury and 14 kilometres south of
Holbrook or fly to Albury.
Bus transport from Albury to WOOMARGAMA will be provided
on 22 December for Media representatives who will be flying
to Albury. Please advise Chris Freeman of requirements.
Property WOOMARGAMA is a property of some 1,800 hcct ires, situated
in undulating countiry 55 kilometres north of Albury, and
14 kilometres ,-;( outlh llol lrook. It is 5 k. lomtr e east
of the village of W.' Kt) iMA AAMA on the Gingelli c Road.
Mr and Mrs Gordon D); rli . nq a;. qu red the pr. opr rty from the
Fiairba i rn est t: in 96 / 2
2
WOOMARGAMA runs Poll Hereford cattle and also Merino Crossbred
Sheep. It has a Suffolk Stud and some crops.
The homestead, overlooking a small artificial lake was built
nearly 70 years ago and was extensively renovated by
Mrs Darling in 1967 to meet the requirements of a
comfortable family home.
Its main living areas comprise a large hall with two
sitting rooms, a dining room and kitchen.
The house has a paved court yard and verandah on the north
side, a swimming pooi and approximately half a hectare of
lawn with trees and gardens, including a rose garden.
Like many other parts of eastern Au-stralia, the district
has been affected by drought. It was declared a drought
area on 1 September 1982 and so far this year, has received
less than half of its normal annual rainfall of about
750 millimetres.
The Owners
Mr Leonard Gordon Darling, 61, has bee~ n a Director of the
BHP Co. Ltd since 1953 and was a Director fr-om 1953 and
Chairman from 1967 1982 of Rheem Australia Ltd. He has
been Director since 1966 and Chairman since 1979 of
Koitaki. Ltd and was a Director of Steamships Trading Co. Ltd*
from 1980 1982 and of Watkins Consolidated Ltd in 1980 1981.
Mr Darling has been Chairman of John Darling Pty Ltd since
1963 and a Director from 1965 and Chairman since 1971 of
New Guinea Industries Pty Ltd.
He was a member of the Federal Government's Economic
Consultative Group from 1976 1980 and a trustee of the
World Wildlife Fund ( Australia) from 1,978 1980. Mr Darling
has been patron of the Australia Papua New Guinea Business
Co-operation Committee since 1980. He has been a member since
January 1982 and Chairman since June 1982 of the council of
the Australian National Gallery in Canberra.
Mr Darling and his wife, Margaret, have two sons and two
daughters. They were married in 1945.
Chris Freeman
Assistant Media Liaison Officer
Visit of The Prince and P'rinicess of Wales 1983
17 December 1982