The house is on the western side of the Nepean River, located at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

Ryan was a butcher, pastoralist, politician, author and sportsman who was born near Penrith, New South Wales.

[3][4] The siting of the house in riverside grounds is indicative of a new wealthy class of family in the district during the mid-nineteenth century.

It has a hipped corrugated steel roof and verandahs to the southern and eastern elevations with cast iron columns, decorative lace friezes and balustrading.

In the garden, remnant plantings remain, including clusters of Jacarandas, Camphor Laurels and Bunya Pines.