A historic homestead considered one of the finest properties in NSW has been completely destroyed by bushfire.
Tongy Station, owned by the family of former Victorian premier Ted Baillieu for almost 100 years, was among the properties lost when the out-of-control Sir Ivan fire swept through parts of the state's central west on Sunday.
Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says the bushfire, east of Dunedoo, has torn through almost 50,000 hectares with an active fire edge of about 200 kilometres.
Almost 10 per cent of the burnt land is believed to be the 4637-hectare Tongy Station, situated on the banks of the Talbragar River between the townships of Cassilis and Uarbry, which have both suffered significant losses.
Real estate agent Richard Royle, who sold the property in late-2015, told AAP on Monday the station's grand Victorian homestead had been "burnt to the ground".
Tongy Station was a fully operational, mixed enterprise farm with sheep, cattle and crops.
Mr Royle said the station's livestock, old stables, wool shed, manager's home and other cottages all survived the blaze.
"The western end of the property, on the Leadville side, has taken the hit. A lot of the outbuildings have gone," he said.
The property manager was on site at the time of the bushfire but nobody was living in the homestead.
Tongy Station dates back to 1825, when former convict Richard Fitzgerald was granted freehold title of the property for his service to the colony through agricultural management.
It was purchased by W L Baillieu in the 1920s and in late-2015 - following the death of owner Tom Baillieu - hit the market for the second time in a century.
Determined to keep it in the family, Sydney-based Marshall Baillieu beat 13 other buyers to claim the keys for just under $20 million.
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