Consultation open 2 to 27 November 2026
ABOUT MINIMBAH HOUSE
Heritage listed residential estate
Minimbah House is a heritage listed residential estate at 119B Minimbah Drive, Whittingham, about 7 km south east of Singleton.
The estate includes the historic house and outbuildings set within established gardens and rural grounds. It is currently a private residential property.
THE PROPOSAL
What is proposed?
Maximum 120 wedding guests
12 rooms for up to 27 guests (wedding party and family)
Maximum 2 weddings per week in peak periods
37 parking spaces including accessible parking
11pm finish time for music and entertainment.
Minimbah House Pty Ltd is preparing a Development Application to use the property as a wedding venue and visitor accommodation.
Wedding ceremonies would generally be held outdoors, with receptions held under temporary marquees. Existing buildings would provide accommodation for the wedding couple and their guests.
Have your say
We would like to hear from nearby residents and local stakeholders before the Development Application is finalised.
Your feedback will help us understand what matters to the community. It will inform the Social Impact Assessment and may help shape the proposal. Personal details will not be published.
Provide feedback
The survey should take less than 10 minutes and closes on 27 November 2026.
Attend the online webinar
Join the project team to hear more about the proposal and ask questions.
DATE: Tuesday 17 November 2026
TIME: 6-7pm
MEETING TYPE: Microsoft Teams
MORE INFORMATION
Frequently asked questions
What is Minimbah House?
Minimbah House is a heritage-listed residential estate at 119B Minimbah Drive, Whittingham, about 7 km south-east of Singleton. The estate includes the historic Minimbah House and its outbuildings, set within established gardens and rural grounds. It is currently a private residential property.
What is proposed at Minimbah House?
Minimbah House Pty Ltd is preparing a Development Application to use the property as a wedding venue and accommodation. Wedding ceremonies and receptions would be held in the grounds, including under temporary marquees. The existing house and other buildings would provide accommodation for wedding guests. Limited indoor areas may also be used during wet weather. The proposal includes onsite parking and space for coaches or shuttle buses to drop off, pick up and turn around. Separate from this proposal, Singleton Council has already approved landscaping works for the property. This approval was obtained by the previous owner. The new owner intends to complete the approved landscaping before submitting the Development Application for the wedding venue and visitor accommodation.
What is included in the landscaping works and will it allow any events to be held?
The approved works include formal gardens on the South and East of the existing dwelling and perimeter planting. This approval relates only to landscaping and does not allow the property to be used as an event venue. Weddings or other events could only be held if the proposed new use is approved by Singleton Council.
How will the heritage of Minimbah House be protected?
Protecting the heritage of Minimbah House is central to the proposal. Only minor works are planned within the house. These will be designed to be reversible wherever possible, meaning they could be removed in the future without permanently altering the building or its significant heritage features.
How many guests would attend each wedding?
The proposed maximum is 120 guests.
How often would weddings be held?
The proposal is for a maximum of 2 weddings per week during peak periods. An annual limit is still to be confirmed. Most weddings are expected to be held on Saturdays, with the wedding party staying onsite on Friday night. If 2 weddings are held in the same week, the second wedding would be held on Wednesday, with the wedding party staying onsite on Tuesday night. The venue is expected to be busier during spring and autumn. There may be some weeks, particularly during winter, when no weddings are held. The proposed operating limits will be included in the Development Application and assessed by Singleton Council.
Where would ceremonies and receptions take place?
Wedding ceremonies would generally be held outdoors within the grounds. Receptions would be held under a temporary marquee in one of the proposed event areas. The areas being considered for ceremonies and marquees will be shown on the site plan available on the project webpage. The marquee would remain the main reception area during wet weather. The verandah may be used for ceremonies, while canapés may be served in the living room or marquee if they cannot be served outdoors.
Would weddings be held inside Minimbah House?
The house would mainly be used as accommodation for the wedding party. During wet weather, guests would be given the option to have canapes in the living room with the doors to the verandah open to spill out between inside and outside. Approval is also being sought for guests to overflow into the entry foyer and dining room.
How many people could stay overnight?
The proposal includes 12 guest rooms for up to 27 people. Accommodation would only be available as part of a wedding booking. The wedding couple and up to 25 guests could stay the night before and the night of the wedding.
What hours would the venue operate?
Weddings would operate between 2pm and 11pm. Music and entertainment would finish by 11pm. The project team is also confirming when guests would leave, when venue staff would finish and when event equipment could be packed down.
How would noise be managed?
A noise assessment has considered music, guests, vehicles and equipment used at the venue. The assessment recommends controls for amplified music, including the location and direction of speakers and the use of enclosed barriers or bandstands. It also recommends a finish time for music. The Development Application will include the proposed noise controls and operating requirements. These may also be supported by a venue management plan covering music, guest behaviour, outdoor areas, pack down and complaints. A summary of the final noise measures will be added when the project team confirms them.
How would guests travel to and from the venue?
Guests would be encouraged to use organised coaches or shuttle buses, particularly if they are staying in Singleton or nearby accommodation. The proposal also includes onsite parking. The transport assessment has considered guest vehicles, staff vehicles, coaches, deliveries and waste collection. The final transport arrangements will explain: •How guests will be encouraged to use shared transport •Where coaches and shuttle buses will stop and turn •How arrivals and departures will be managed •How taxis and rideshare vehicles will operate •How people who have been drinking will travel safely.
How much parking would be provided?
The current transport assessment includes 37 onsite parking spaces, including an accessible space. Parking would be contained within the property. Guests would not be directed to park on Minimbah Drive.
How would traffic and the driveway be managed?
All guest, staff and service vehicles would use the existing access from Minimbah Drive. Traffic would generally move in one direction at a time. Most guests would arrive before the wedding and leave after it ends, so there is unlikely to be regular two-way traffic on the driveway. There may occasionally be a vehicle leaving while another vehicle is arriving, such as during vendor deliveries. The right of way is approximately 20 m wide, with a graded driveway approximately 4 m wide. If 2 vehicles need to pass, the flat, grassed area beside the driveway could be used. This area is within the existing right of way. The traffic arrangements will also consider coaches, guest arrivals and departures, staff and service vehicles, deliveries and emergency access. Final details will be provided in the Development Application.
What happens with deliveries, waste and event set up?
Food, drinks, equipment and other supplies would be delivered to the site for each event. The transport assessment indicates that event set up and pack down would occur outside the main guest arrival and departure periods. Waste would be collected by a private contractor. The project team is confirming these details and will be submitted with the development application to Singleton Council.
How would lighting and privacy be managed?
Low level, garden style lighting is proposed around event areas, paths and the parking area to help guests move safely around the property. The external lighting would operate from dusk until 11.30 pm. Lighting would be positioned and directed to limit unnecessary spill beyond the property, including towards neighbouring homes.
How would complaints be handled if the venue operates?
If the proposal is approved, a complaints and enquiry management plan would be developed. It would include contact details for the venue and a process for recording, responding to and resolving concerns raised by nearby residents. Urgent matters outside the venue’s operating hours should be reported to the police or other relevant authorities, as appropriate. Feedback received during consultation will help inform the complaints and enquiry process.
Has the Development Application been lodged?
No. The development application is expected to be lodged with Singleton Council by the end of the year. The current consultation is being undertaken before the application is finalised. Feedback will inform the Social Impact Assessment and may also inform the proposal and its management measures. Once the Development Application is lodged, Singleton Council will assess it and advise whether it will be formally notified or exhibited.
Have a question?
Mara Consulting is managing the consultation and preparing the Social impact assessment.
Contact us for more information.
02 49654317