Signature Property: Woodside Stables and Centennial Vineyards Part 2

This article is from the February 2020 Horse Deals magazine.

Article: Anna Sharpley. Photos: Julie Wilson.

Mark Dowling said last month that he was “up for a challenge” and the past few weeks around the Bowral area in the Southern Highlands of NSW have been very challenging indeed due to the devastating bushfires. Woodside Stables have been an evacuation point for horses in the bushfire affected areas close by.

Woodside Stables is set back from the road with the award-winning Centennial Vineyards set at the front to the property with 75 of the 320-acre property under vines. The vineyard, awarded 2015 Best Cellar Door, boasts a 150 seat à la carte restaurant with the winery and cellar door alongside. The winery, too, has functions and public concerts hosting the likes of Rod Stewart no less.

Woodside Stables is not left behind in the promotion stakes either, as it hosts many dressage clinics and often has open days where the general public can get a close look at some of the country’s best dressage horses and riders. And then, of course, there is all the informal fun including a tennis tournament with dressage riders wielding a tennis racquet. “The tennis is pretty full-on,” says friend, Sue Hearn.

As well as the vineyard and impressive horse facilities, the beautiful gardens are an absolute delight. “I love my garden,” says Mark, “and I have 12 acres of private gardens. We are blessed with water here and everything is under automatic irrigation all over the property. We have spring fed dams and a 200m deep bore that is our main source of water. We also get a lot of catchment water, especially off the 80m x 20m indoor which goes to in-ground concrete tanks. The lake in front of the house is a Turkey Nest dam. It is at the highest point of the property and does not get any runoff and is filled from the bore.

“There are two different woodland areas within the 12-acre garden and I have planted 3,000 trees around the property; Plane trees, maples, poplars and conifers and in autumn it looks amazing. Also, I now have 12 of the once thought extinct wollemi pines.” There are mass plantings of hydrangeas and rhododendrons, water features, hedges, parterre gardens, a vegetable garden and a wonderful gazebo overlooking the lake that make the garden a delight. One can just imagine oneself there with a cool drink at the end of the day looking out over the lake, admiring the pair of breeding swans that have been resident for 15 years. “They breed every year and when old enough the cygnets are packed off, the boys first and then the girls. We have several generations of swans around the property on the various dams.”
Mark Dowling has created an idyllic home for himself and his horses and seems to have the perfect work/life balance. However, he is not selfish with it and does a great deal for the community, especially the horse community. He is doing what he can for others at this difficult time. There can be few things more difficult than dealing with horses and livestock during a bushfire, and the fires are not so far from Woodside Stables and Centennial Vineyards. “Mark is the sort of person who just helps everybody,” says Sue. “He puts a lot of effort into the property and keeps it looking immaculate all the time.”

So when it is safe to do so, support those who have supported the community and a visit to Woodside Stables/Centennial Vineyard will be well worth the effort.

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