IT played host to the colony’s landed gentry and stood as a grand landmark in Goulburn’s countryside in the early days.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Kippilaw, built for the Chisholm family some 12km west of Goulburn, has seen a passing parade of prominent names in its 175-year history.
Now, for only the third time, it’s up for sale.
Agents Chris Meares and Associates are hoping for more than $6 million following a private marketing campaign.
The homestead and surrounding 400 acres, owned by Robert and Helen Rich, last traded for about $2.6m in 1997, Property Observer reported.
Mr Meares said the Rich family had decided to rationalise their investments in this area and move closer to Sydney for family reasons.
The couple also own ‘Jessmondeen,’ a 2400-acre holding on Fish River Rd, 75km northwest of Goulburn, and ‘Pomeroy,’ west of the city (excluding the homestead).
Together the properties total 10,000 acres.
Over the past 15 years they’ve made numerous architect-designed improvements to the 1837 house. The distinctive rubblestone outbuildings have also had an overhaul.
“They’ve turned it from a period homestead to a contemporary floor plan and added a conservatory,” Mr Meares said.
“It is now more of a family home.”
The sale includes the two-storey, six bedroom house, which was built from convict-quarried stone and crafted cedar joinery, extensive gardens, including 180- year-old oak trees lining the drive, tennis court, swimming pool, stables, coach house, old schoolhouse accommodating a two-bedroom apartment, caretakers cottage and surrounding land.
James Chisholm, a member of the Legislative Council, moved to the area in the 1830s with his wife, Elizabeth to take up her 1280-acre land grant.
When built, the Georgian mansion was named after Elizabeth’s birth place in Scotland, Property Observer stated.
Over the years it hosted many social gatherings and high profile names like author Mary Durack. It was regarded as an important stopover point for early travellers.
The Chisholm family owned the property up until the late 1980s or early 1990s when Janet and Graham Webb bought it.
Mr Meares said the marketing campaign online and via information sent directly to potential buyers had attracted interest from Sydney and overseas.
Asked about its selling potential, Mr Meares said: “It’s a very selective property.
There’s a market for top end properties but not the lower end. This is the very top end.”
The Kippilaw Church, where the Chisholm clan still gather for reunions, is not part of the sale. It was excised from the property and handed to the Anglican Diocese several years ago.
