- Was built as a country retreat for Charles B Fairfax in the 1880s.
- Is spread across 4.54 hectares in the New South Wales Highlands.
- Comprises a main house and three guest houses.
A historic slice of Bowral has come to market, circa 1.5 hours away from Sydney in the New South Wales Southern Highlands.
Located at 4 Ranelagh Road in Burradoo, the sprawling 4.54 hectare estate was previously listed at the start of 2022; a new campaign has now been launched by Knight Frank‘s Nathan Berlyn and Andrew Blake with a price guide of $12 million.
The property is being sold by the current owners, Gary and Maryanne Nolan.
Built for the grandson of John Fairfax
The property was originally built in the 1880s as a country retreat for Charles B Fairfax and his wife Florence.
Charles Fairfax is the grandson of Herald founder John Fairfax.
Berlyn said the estate was designed by London architect Maurice Adams and has lived many lives since its inception.
“It has had a variety of uses, being a boarding school at one point, and the additions over time have created an incredible offering, with complete privacy and wide pretty garden vistas,” said Berlyn.
“It’s also one of the largest landholdings and oldest gardens in the suburb of Burradoo and the Southern Highlands region.”
Knoyle Estate also bears similarities with another former Fairfax family estate, Elaine, one of Sydney Harbour’s most iconic and significant properties.
The Queen Anne style has influences of the Gothic Revival and Arts and Crafts style, with features of the main residence including an impressive entrance leading to a vast stair hall with sweeping cantilevered cedar staircase, detailed plaster arches, impeccably designed bay windows and 13-inch ceilings.
The estate
Situated across 4.54 hectares, the estate is situated on the highest point in Burradoo.
The four houses comprise a total 2,000 square metres of internal space, 31 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and space for six cars over four residences.
The main house is a two storey building with 1,155 sqm of internal space, comprising 14 bedrooms, five living and dining rooms, seven bathrooms, and two kitchens.
The three guest houses are 271 sqm, 200 sqm, and 288 sqm respectively. The largest guest house includes eight bedrooms, one living and dining room, and two bathrooms. The 271 square metre guest house includes four bedrooms, two living and dining rooms, and three bathrooms. The smallest guest house includes five bedrooms, four living and dining rooms, and two bathrooms.
The park-like gardens feature rare specimen trees, lush green lawns and beautiful flowers with century old trees, mature plantings and full arch canopies, as well as an incredibly rare, permanent seven level private labyrinth, a rewarding source of relaxation, refreshment and insight.
A plethora of opportunities
Blake expects Knoyle Estate to attract a full spectrum of buyers, from owner-occupiers through to investors and developers.
“The property could be used in its current form as a grand home, but there is also the opportunity to repurpose the residence, as well as to develop, subject to council approval and hence for it to instead be a commercial acquisition,” he said.
Given the scale of the site, Blake added that other opportunities included accommodation – given the demand for premium accommodation in the area – a luxury wellness retreat, a wedding or events venue, a cooking school, an art gallery or even as a retail outlet for antique dealers.
“There is also the potential for a group homes and seniors’ living.”
Andrew Blake, Knight Frank
“The property currently sits on three titles, with the potential for subdivision and dual occupancies.
“Not only is it on a large landholding, but its location is ideal, being just a three-minute drive from the thriving town of Bowral, with its café culture and village atmosphere.”
Prime property market grows
Knoyle Estate was previously sold via private treaty in August 2014 for $3,685,000, according to Domain and realestate.com.au.
According to Knight Frank’s research, there were 147 prime sales ($2m+) that transacted in the Southern Highlands over 2022, with a total sales volume of $432 million.
Prime home values rose from an average of $2.886 million in 2021 to an average of $2.959 million in 2022.
Over the first quarter of Q1 this year, there have been 25 prime settled sales tallying to $81.3 million, with the average sale price rising further to now be $3,388,500.
