THE former residence of Australia's first Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton has been put on the market for auction in May.
This heritage homestead is being marketed by John Knott of Laing+Simmons Woollahra and Margaret McCauley of Margaret McCauley Real Estate.
Knott said Wandevan is a magnificent single storey residence set amongst five acres of beautiful gardens full of exotic and native trees and plants, located on
“The vast expanse of the home is breathtaking and the fact the current owners have painstakingly restored the property to its original grandeur makes it even more attractive.
“Wandevan comprises five bedrooms and four bathrooms and is impeccably presented with wrap around verandahs and underhouse wine cellars. There are five working fireplaces inside and a four car garage and full size tennis court to the rear,” Knott added.
There is also a large reception room, sitting room, billiards room, formal dining room and eat in kitchen.
Originally built by a schoolmaster circa 1880, perhaps even as early as the 1860s, Wandevan was then sold to Judge Murray, a contemporary of Barton’s, who invited the future Father of Federation to stay.
The home is an early rammed earth building with its original features totally intact. The walls are 12 foot high and 18 inches thick throughout the main home and 9 feet high in the rendered, full brick flat. The ceilings are wooden and affixed in a herringbone pattern while the roof is corrugated iron.
Knott said a price tag of around $5 million is forecast and there are draft plans to subdivide the property, which should ensure strong interest from estate buyers and developers alike.
He added whilst there is subdivision potential, any plans will have to respect and preserve the wonderful home that has stood for 130 years.
Wandevan will be auctioned on-site on May 04.
Knott and McCauley have worked together on the sale a string of high profile heritage properties in the Southern Highlands in recent times, including the Tooths Brewery ‘Maltings’, the old Prince Albert Inn at Braemar and ‘Falconhurst’ at Buradoo, which fetched $2.65 million.
Australian Property Journal
