Goulburn district property 'Spring Ponds' to go up for auction

Spring Ponds, which has frontages to Jerrara and Mountain Ash Roads, will go to auction next month, after six generations in the one family.

It follows the recent sale of the nearby 460-hectare Inverary Park last month.

Owners Skye and David Ward are selling the 521ha property to consolidate their pastoral enterprise at their Bungendore holding.

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"It's been a really hard decision because we've loved living here so much," Mrs Ward said.

"We've done a lot of improvements over the past 12 years, as has my family over 110 years. It's difficult (to leave) but it's the best decision for our young family."

The Wards have three children, continuing a line of family association with Spring Ponds.

The land was part of a 4000-acre ticket of occupation granted to William Bradbury in 1823, according to family research. He had purchased it and a further 3000 acres by 1828. A slab hut on the property, now restored, is thought to have dated from that time.

Bradbury subsequently sold to Robert Futter and in 1911, Dr William AH Burkitt bought the vast holding, beginning the family's long tenure.

Mrs Ward said her great-great grandfather was born in Ireland and put himself and younger brother through Trinity College, London, by breeding cattle.

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He arrived in Goulburn as a doctor and initially established his practice at 101 Bourke Street (Claremont Manor) before moving to 21 Market Street (the current Goulburn Chinese restaurant), according to Tazewell's Grand Goulburn.

Burkitt was described as an "astute businessman" who also purchased Reevesdale at Bungonia, Caoura Station, Tallong, Paling Yards on the Oberon Road, Wallengriva, near Taralga and Mount Defiance. At one time he also leased Wingello Park, near Marulan. At Spring Ponds he was drawn to the string of ponds running through the property.

"He (also) had a good eye for land and liked basalt," Mrs Ward said.

"...There are some amazing stories of the family taking stock from Bungonia to Caoura Station or past Taralga and the number of gates they had to open."

Dr Burkitt travelled widely with his medical practice and was respected in his field. He had married Catherine Ussher in Ireland, who went on to become one of Goulburn's first suffragette movement members in 1901. Dr Burkitt supported her in this work. Catherine was also a talented artist who painted scenery around the properties and at nearby Bungonia Gorge.

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Their son, Arthur Neville Burkitt, became professor of anatomy at Sydney University.

Mrs Ward said her grandfather, Neville, was destined for the same profession but missed the medical intake. World War Two had intervened and afterwards, he returned to Spring Ponds and became a farmer.

He married Margaret Williams, the daughter of Goulburn doctor, Ralph Williams.

At its peak, the property was 5000 acres. Neville started the fertiliser application and with Margaret, transformed the holding into a showpiece.

"They loved the property and my mother (photographer and author, Trisha Dixon) and her siblings had an idyllic childhood growing up there, as have our children," Mrs Ward said.

"...They were passionate about it and my grandmother created the garden from scratch. She spent all day, every day there and each plant has so much meaning."

Drawing on the inspiration of garden designers Edna Walling and Beatrice Bligh, Margaret strove for a sense of wonderment and exploration in her garden. Chinese elms, roses, lilacs, pearl bushes, hardy perennials, larkspurs and poppies are set across different levels and complement a 150-year-old Hordern Oak planted by Neville's mother, Emily (nee Hordern).

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Neville and Margaret stayed for 65 years before moving to Goulburn in 2009. Mrs Ward said she learnt a great deal from her grandparents after she and husband, Dave, leased Spring Ponds from them between 2007 and 2009.

Since then they have put their own stamp. The couple run 3500 fine wool merinos and spruik the fibre wherever possible. The family has participated in Australian Wool Innovation marketing campaigns.

They've also undertaken pasture improvement, sowing 151ha to pasture and crop to lift sheep carrying capacity, fenced off stock from riparian zones and installed troughs as part of Sydney Catchment work, replaced most of the fencing over the past 10 years and applied fertiliser every two years.

In addition, they've restored the 1920s eight-bedroom, four-bathroom homestead. History is all around them, from the 1860s house wing to the 1850s five-stand shearing shed, original shearers huts and farm cottage rented to tenants.

"We've really tried to continue the work my grandparents did," Mrs Ward said.

"It's an easy property to run, with reliable water supply, so anyone can just walk in...It's so unique, being owned by the one family for 110 years. It's a really special place and we hope someone falls in love with it as much as we have."

Elias Sleiman @ Realty is marketing Spring Ponds Australia-wide.

Mr Sleiman said the property's location within two hours of Sydney, its opportunities for farm tourism and the fact it was a going concern, were strong selling points.

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He expects it to sell before the November 30 auction by Cooley Auctions' at their Double Bay rooms.

"There is enormous demand for properties in Goulburn Mulwaree," he said.

"...Some of the gloss has gone off the Southern Highlands and Sydney people are looking at this area for nice, comfortable farmland within easy reach of the city."

Mr Sleiman also sold Inverary Park at Bungonia last month for what he said was above price expectation.

Another Bungonia district property is expected to settle within two weeks.

Mr Sleiman, now based in Goulburn, said in the past few months he had tripled his best year in real estate in 33 years in the industry.

He predicted the region would undergo similar growth to that experienced previously around the lower Blue Mountains.

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