Historic Rouse Hill farm could make its owner more than $200 million
For the first time in three decades an historic 33.5 hectare site in Rouse Hill, on the fringes of Sydney, has hit the market and is expected to fetch more than $200 million.
The site, which has been used for cattle grazing, is at 285-297 Annangrove Road, and situated between Rouse Hill and the new town centre at Box Hill.
Knight Frank Western Sydney industrial director James Reeves said the site was within the priority growth corridor of north-western Sydney, which was set to benefit from a substantial amount of urban infrastructure already in the pipeline.
The development of the Metro Northwest rail line and the Skytrain section from Kellyville to Rouse Hill would contribute to the establishment of the Rouse Hill precinct as a major hub.
“The scale of this super lot might be one of the only opportunities in the area for a fully integrated, community orientated development, which in addition to a master-planned residential precinct could include hospitals, universities and associated uses,” he said.
The Annangrove Road site is steeped in history, with the fourth governor of NSW, William Bligh, acquiring the land in 1806 as part of one of the largest land grants at the time.
He named it “Copenhagen” and the land was later divided and bought by an investor in 1841.
Its other owners include the Sylvestrine Benedictine Fathers, who acquired the land in 1959, until the early 1980s, with the intention of opening a monastery and school, which never eventuated.
A private owner occupier operated a nursery at the site, and from the late 1980s it was owned by the Moran Health Care Group, who intended to open a hospital but never received the required approvals.
It is now being sold by a private owner.
Knight Frank Western Sydney metropolitan sales senior sales executive Grant Bulpett said as one of the single largest lots to be offered for sale in the area, he expected the land to garner strong interest from developers looking to be a part of the significant growth in the area.
“It’s not often we see sites of this size that are zoned for multiple uses come to market, so we anticipate it will draw significant interest from large-scale developers,” he said.
“Currently raw farm land, only used for cattle grazing, the future owner will be well positioned to unlock the significant value potential of the site through redevelopment.”
285-297 Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill, is being sold via expressions of interest, which close July 19.
