Bowral weekender Kowana sold by art dealer Justin Miller

Art adviser Justin Miller has sold his historic Bowral weekender, Kowana, which had $3.75 million hopes.

The 1870s cottage, with about 200 sqm of internal space, sits on an elevated 7955 sqm just outside the town. There are Canadian redwood walls and New Zealand kauri pine floors at the cottage, which was built for Randolph Nott, the architect who became a Macquarie Street politician and building society pioneer.

Set in the historic Notts Hill precinct, its English-style garden dates back to the 1930s when planted by Altona James, wife of the one-time Point Piper domiciled judge Augustus James.

It was retained by the family until 1962 when sold by Bruce Ryrie and his wife, Altona.

The house traded at $265,000 in 1987 and then sold for $660,000 in 1997 by international record producer Mark Opitz and his wife Vanessa, who hosted visitors including Helena Christensen and Michael Hutchence.

There were $40,000 worth of renovations approved in 2016 after it was bought by the art doyen (pictured) for $1.75m in 2015.

Miller advises private and corporate collectors on the purchase and sale of their 19th and 20th century art. He has almost 30 years’ experience in the fine art auction industry and is best known for his 11 years as chairman of Sotheby’s Australia from 1999 to 2010.

Kowana, which was sold by local agent Michael Cawthorn, is close to Kevin Ryan’s luxury 17-hectare retirement village site, Waterbrook Bowral.

This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.