With its own airstrip and hangar, horse stables, secluded riverfront and chandelier-adorned marquee, ‘Willowmere’ outside Canberra is in a class of its own.
The Grade II listed mansion on the Murrumbidgee River was built by a leading estate agent who fell in love with the location and made an offer to buy the land on site.
“He loves horses… and has his pilot’s license and loves flying, so he has his own private airstrip, and if he wanted to go to Sydney he would literally jump on a plane,” sales agent Joshua Morrissey of HIVE Property said.
Located at 154 Woodgrove Close, Wallaroo, the estate is set in 80.2 hectares of riverside land, with a full-size international standard tennis court, a sports oval, a creek with a waterfall and an extensive truffle meadow with 200 English oak trees.
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Willowmere extends over 80.2 hectares of riverside land. Image: realestate.com.au
The nine-bedroom mansion with a huge 1,750 sq ft of living space was built with impeccable detail and finish and was awarded the title of Master Builders Association House of the Year in the early 1990s.
Mr Morrissey said the owner used the mansion as a main residence and had put it on the market due to plans to move to Queensland.
“It’s in a very tight area and the acreage there is very rare,” Mr Morrissey said.
The hangar is currently rented to Helicopter Corp for $250 per week. Image: realestate.com.au
“Generally speaking, the life cycle of a property is quite long. People who move to Wallaroo usually build and stay there for a generation or two.
“It’s only 20 minutes to the city, so you have a lot of business people, families who want a rural lifestyle.”
The solar heated pool in Tuscan style. Image: realestate.com.au
The frontage of the Murrumbidgee River is often used for private fishing, and there is plenty of wildlife such as deer, kangaroos and wombats.
The mansion itself features six fireplaces, wide balconies, high ceilings, marble columns, carved architraves, a library, a large formal lounge and a Japanese steam room, gym and spa.
View from every room. Image: realestate.com.au
Mr Morrissey called it a ‘real country house’ and said the estate was unlike anything he had seen before.
“It’s just breathtaking any way you explore that property, it’s beautiful in itself for many different reasons,” he said.
“It’s just one of those properties that you have to go and see to appreciate.”
Every entertainer’s dream. Image: realestate.com.au
A hangar lease to Helicopter Corp is currently in place and Mr Morrissey said the tent offered the potential to host events and weddings as a business venture.
“Someone could come in and put the whole thing on Airbnb, and turn it into a small hotel, or turn it into an events destination,” he said.
A 500 m² marquee on site with bathrooms and chandeliers is ideal for weddings and events. Image: realestate.com.au
“I think if you have some commercial acumen it presents a really good opportunity to create further value – there are lots of opportunities.”
The property is offered for sale ‘by negotiation’.
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