Mena, 50 Kite Street, Orange, NSW
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HistoryMena, which may have been designed by architect, Benjamin Backhouse, was built in 1875 for James Dalton who had the residence constructed for his son, Thomas Gatty Dalton. James Dalton was a very prominent Orange merchant and pastoralist and townsman; he was at one time mayor of Orange and the Dalton family was one of the most influential Catholic families in New South Wales
Some of the early tree plantings in the back garden are common Poplars reaching more than 30 metres. A tortured Willow at the rear of the Stables is well over 100 years old and Robinia flank the boundaries on all sides.
Well-known Orange Business Merchant James Dalton built the house in 1875 for his eldest son Thomas. It is said that the original garden was an area of approximately 3 acres, which took in the front at Kite Street and stretching south down to Moulder Street. Today, with the adjoining homes, the garden area now occupies an area of just over half an acre.
This elegant house was built for Thomas Dalton by his father James, and is a significant example of the Irish legacy and a manifestation of their confident outlook.
"Kite Street contains many interesting houses, of which this is the finest. It was built about 1875 by local merchant James Dalton for his son Tom and was probably designed by Benjamin Backhouse".
(Derek Woolcott, Walking Tour Leaflet).
"In 1875 James Dalton of Duntryleague built "Killarney" in Kite St. (now "Mena") for his eldest son Thomas Garrett ("Gatty") Dalton and his family. "Gatty" was Mayor of Orange for three years".
(Bruce, p. 44, with photo, p. 45).
"'Mena' was originally named Killiney and was built for Thomas Garrett ("Gatty") Dalton by his father James, probably in the 1890s (1870s?). Thomas Garrett Dalton, born 1859, was educated at St. Stanislaus' College Bathurst and after graduating M.A. Sydney University appears to have worked in the family's Sydney office, Dalton House, Pitt St., until the death of his first wife, May nee Condon, in 1895. About this time he returned to Orange. His son Thomas was born 1894 in Sydney at their home 'Wheatley' and is now [1979] residing in Byng St., Orange. He lived with his grandparents at Duntryleague until "Gatty" married Mary Butler in 1897 when he came to live with his father and stepmother at Killiney.
Thomas Garrett Dalton was three times Mayor of Orange and managed the family business (Dalton Bros. Store and the two flour mills in Orange) during his lifetime. Killiney was left to his wife Mary who apparently lived there until her death, when it was sold, subsequently being re-named 'Mena" and becoming a private hospital.
The exact date of this Kite St. house of Thomas Garrett Dalton's is not known, and though it has mid-Victorian features such as cast-iron lace and plaster mouldings round the windows to match the heavy quoins at the corners of its stuccoed walls, there are other details, for example the louvered ventilation openings under the roof ridge and the small coloured panes bordering the French windows, which only became popular in the nineties. Thus it appears likely that the house was built at the time of business revival after the disastrous depression with which that decade opened, and this theory is consistent with the above family history.
The dominant false gable over the entrance, with its wooden fretwork infill and sunray pattern brackets, is very typical of Australian architecture in the closing years of Victoria's reign, as is the use of Australian flora in the cast-iron trim.
The internal joinery is of cedar and it is evident that no expense was spared in the building and fitting out of this house. It is fortunate that it has survived almost intact and now has sympathetic owners whose approach is exemplified by the appropriate new front fence.
Entry is by double doors with fine floral leadlights showing Art Nouveau influence. The colourless section in the centre of the fanlight once held the original name of the house (Killiney). Modern locks on front and back doors have been replaced by massive early ones.
The front hall is imposing with niches and pilasters at the transition to the rear section. The floral motifs are repeated in fanlights over the doors which have heavy architraves ornamented with dentils. Note coat cupboard on right with small bull's-eye window, containing a remnant of the bell system once installed throughout the house".
Some of the early tree plantings in the back garden are common Poplars reaching more than 30 metres. A tortured Willow at the rear of the Stables is well over 100 years old and Robinia flank the boundaries on all sides.
Well-known Orange Business Merchant James Dalton built the house in 1875 for his eldest son Thomas. It is said that the original garden was an area of approximately 3 acres, which took in the front at Kite Street and stretching south down to Moulder Street. Today, with the adjoining homes, the garden area now occupies an area of just over half an acre.
This elegant house was built for Thomas Dalton by his father James, and is a significant example of the Irish legacy and a manifestation of their confident outlook.
"Kite Street contains many interesting houses, of which this is the finest. It was built about 1875 by local merchant James Dalton for his son Tom and was probably designed by Benjamin Backhouse".
(Derek Woolcott, Walking Tour Leaflet).
"In 1875 James Dalton of Duntryleague built "Killarney" in Kite St. (now "Mena") for his eldest son Thomas Garrett ("Gatty") Dalton and his family. "Gatty" was Mayor of Orange for three years".
(Bruce, p. 44, with photo, p. 45).
"'Mena' was originally named Killiney and was built for Thomas Garrett ("Gatty") Dalton by his father James, probably in the 1890s (1870s?). Thomas Garrett Dalton, born 1859, was educated at St. Stanislaus' College Bathurst and after graduating M.A. Sydney University appears to have worked in the family's Sydney office, Dalton House, Pitt St., until the death of his first wife, May nee Condon, in 1895. About this time he returned to Orange. His son Thomas was born 1894 in Sydney at their home 'Wheatley' and is now [1979] residing in Byng St., Orange. He lived with his grandparents at Duntryleague until "Gatty" married Mary Butler in 1897 when he came to live with his father and stepmother at Killiney.
Thomas Garrett Dalton was three times Mayor of Orange and managed the family business (Dalton Bros. Store and the two flour mills in Orange) during his lifetime. Killiney was left to his wife Mary who apparently lived there until her death, when it was sold, subsequently being re-named 'Mena" and becoming a private hospital.
The exact date of this Kite St. house of Thomas Garrett Dalton's is not known, and though it has mid-Victorian features such as cast-iron lace and plaster mouldings round the windows to match the heavy quoins at the corners of its stuccoed walls, there are other details, for example the louvered ventilation openings under the roof ridge and the small coloured panes bordering the French windows, which only became popular in the nineties. Thus it appears likely that the house was built at the time of business revival after the disastrous depression with which that decade opened, and this theory is consistent with the above family history.
The dominant false gable over the entrance, with its wooden fretwork infill and sunray pattern brackets, is very typical of Australian architecture in the closing years of Victoria's reign, as is the use of Australian flora in the cast-iron trim.
The internal joinery is of cedar and it is evident that no expense was spared in the building and fitting out of this house. It is fortunate that it has survived almost intact and now has sympathetic owners whose approach is exemplified by the appropriate new front fence.
Entry is by double doors with fine floral leadlights showing Art Nouveau influence. The colourless section in the centre of the fanlight once held the original name of the house (Killiney). Modern locks on front and back doors have been replaced by massive early ones.
The front hall is imposing with niches and pilasters at the transition to the rear section. The floral motifs are repeated in fanlights over the doors which have heavy architraves ornamented with dentils. Note coat cupboard on right with small bull's-eye window, containing a remnant of the bell system once installed throughout the house".
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NotesThis symmetrical masonry residence with curved return verandah was built for Thomas Dalton by his father James, and is a significant example of the Irish legacy and a manifestation of their confident outlook while complementing the streetscape and contributing to the Conservation Area within the city as a heritage item.
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Mena, 50 Kite Street, Orange, NSW. Central West Libraries, accessed 28/04/2026, https://centralwest.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/3516
