For Tender
With city-living losing its appeal, one of the outstanding rural ‘escapes’, Mayfield Estate, Orange, in the Central Tablelands region of NSW, is being offered for sale by Expressions of Interest by rural property specialists, Meares & Associates, Sydney.
Undoubtably one of the outstanding rural estates of eastern Australia, Mayfield Estate, part of a land grant to W.C. Wentworth for the crossing of the Blue Mountains in 1813 and with only four owners since, is being offered for sale by the current owners Richard and Kathy Thomas who have made Mayfield their home over the past 22 years.
This 46.45 ha property, located just 9.5 km from arguably Australia’s leading rural city Orange (population c 40,000) is centred around the 800 square metre, 6-7 bedroom Neo-Georgian style homestead built 1906-1910 under instructions from the then owner James Crawford, of Scottish biscuit fame, and designed by one of the leading architects of the time William Hardy Wilson as “ a home suitable for an English gentlemen”. The homestead is set within 3.6 ha of established gardens and arboretum featuring mainly Northern Hemisphere species of trees.
The magnificent double brick homestead is described as a home for all seasons with a subtle mix of both formal and informal living areas, making it an excellent family homestead or one designed to entertain many guests or indeed a “Country House” boutique hotel.
The Thomas’ have also established two excellent underlying businesses on Mayfield, comprising the very popular Country Cottage accommodation business incorporating the original ‘school house’ and 3 authentic cottages as now contemporary
accommodation, together with the 6.6ha vineyard, producing premium Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapes for the “Icely Road” & “Mayfield Vineyard” wine brands as well as wine grapes for other winemakers. In recent times it has also included wine tasting, cellar door & wedding function facilities as well as a successful restaurant, for a period.
Chris Meares, of Meares and Associates commented: “ there is no doubt a paradigm shift clearly taking place in certain sectors of the property market at present, as a function of the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes about as a realisation sets in that this situation is not going to change for some time”.
“ Up-market, lifestyle property investors in particular are reassessing their position and future options with a preference for properties in the country which offer space, freedom to roam and a healthy environment, rather that the traditional overseas villas or even beach houses. Many also indicate a desire to work from home”.
“We are seeing this trend gaining momentum, and undoubtably will continue. Recently the Government announced that there are still 23,000 expatriates trying to return back to Australia on a permanent basis - this together with the pent up demand from city dwellers looking to move to the major rural centres such as Orange is only going to increase.”
“Capital growth in Orange residential real estate over the past 5 years has increased by 38.6% and rental growth by 15.2%. When comparing these figures with Sydney’s growth over the same period of 22.2% and rentals up 5.8% it is obvious to see why people are considering centres such as Orange - given its population of over 40,000 people, European type climate, outstanding education, health and medical facilities, and its food and hospitality services making it a much sought after destination.”
“ One could argue that the only problem with the Orange district is its lack of suitable ‘top end’ property for sale – this trend is only going to see the investment property/lifestyle market continue to grow into the future”, he concluded.
Mayfield Estate is one of these sought-after, hard-to-find properties. It fits all the criteria in terms of:
- A beautiful setting with a 3.6 ha arboretum of exotic trees and birdlife
- Its magnificent, historic Neo- Georgian homestead of grand proportions
- A village of authentic rural cottages providing substantial income.
- An established commercial vineyard producing premium ‘cool climate’ wines
- Close proximity to the major regional city of Orange with all its facilities including Orange airport, providing daily services to and from Sydney & direct flights to Brisbane & Melbourne.
Mayfield Estate is being offered for sale by Expressions of Interest, with tenders closing Wednesday 28th October, 2020.
For more information on this property, please click here.
Chris Meares
Meares & Associates
