Private schools circle $10m estate of late Australian billionaire, agent says
A 17-hectare Tuscan-style estate with a horse stables originally owned by late billionaire Robert Holmes à Court, is being offered with a very flexible settlement of up to four years, and a price tag in excess of $10 million.
The semi-rural property boasting “beautiful, fertile grounds” at 84-106 William Street, Wallan – a rapidly-growing area an hour’s drive north up the Hume Highway from Melbourne’s CBD – was originally part of the billionaire’s huge 1000-hectare horse breeding operation known as Heytesbury Horse Stud.
Following the businessman’s death, the 1000-hectare parcel was sold in the early’90s to an overseas consortium and subdivided into 700 lots to become a residential housing estate called Hidden Valley.
“Why it wasn’t part of the original chop of land, I’m not too sure, and they’re not too sure either” said selling agent Craig McKellar of CVA Property, referring to its private owners who have held the property “since the mid to late’90s”.
The sprawling estate with mature landscaped gardens boasts two homes – a four-bedroom with three bathrooms, and a three-bedroom with two bathrooms, as well as a 370-square-metre timber-clad horse stables, a 400-square-metre stockfeed shed and two-car garage. The second residence was leased last October.
Originally a caretaker’s cottage secondary to a larger homestead on the original site, the property was reportedly home to Holmes a Court’s Melbourne Cup winner Black Knight.
McKellar said tiling with the Heytesbury stud’s insignia could still be seen at the front of the stables.
McKellar said although the property was zoned farming, investors could overturn it through the council, following in the footsteps of all of their neighbours.
“This package has the only two titles on the north side of Williams Road that haven’t been rezoned to the Low Density Residential Zone or Comprehensive Development Zone,” the listing reads.
The owners hoped by offering long term settlement options of two to four years, it would allow for subdivision rules to be revised. “They’re not in a rush to sell,” he added.
The property was first listed in August last year, and moved to private sale following the closure of the four-week campaign. A median house price is Wallan is $620,000.
“If somebody is going to invest in the property and see the true wealth of what it is, they’re going to need to spend a bit of time getting it all right,” McKellar said.
Commercial ventures such as private schools and wedding venue businesses had taken interest, buoyed by the area’s projected growth, he added.
“I have been speaking to a couple of schools that are looking at the site with the growth in the Wallan area,” he said.
“Projecting over the next 10 to 15 years it looks like we’re going to be almost doubling our population.”
Wallan’s population of 19,726 residents is estimated to swell to over 50,000 by 2041, according to the information memorandum.
Affordability, strategic planning, and investments in infrastructure have made Wallan an attractive spot for new residents and investors alike.
The fertile soil also lends itself to a number of other operations, including a boutique winery and cellar door, but it could also become a residential or aged care site.
Hidden Valley – launched in 1998 – boasts larger lot sizes in keeping with the overall semirural vibe, as well as walking trails, an equestrian centre and 18-hole Craig Perry-designed golf course, the Hidden Valley Golf Course & Country Club, which the property backs onto.
“There’s no other luxury lifestyle estate in Victoria that compares,” the Hidden Valley website reads.
The town centre of Wallan is a few minutes drive away, and the area is well serviced by the recently-updated Wallan train station, which provides daily commutes to Melbourne.
It is also well connected by road, with Melbourne Airport just 30 minutes away by road.
Wallan has recently seen notable growth, expanding by 30 per cent between 2011 and 2016, and the broader Mitchell Shire is the fastest growing municipality in Victoria.
Holmes à Court’s son Simon, an energy analyst, clean-teach investor and climate philanthropist, funded Climate 200.
During the 2022 federal election, Climate 200 provided political funding to help community backed independents – notably the teal candidates – stand for election on climate platforms.
