Artist Tim Storrier to auction Blackdown Estate at Bathurst
Last year's Archibald prizewinner Tim Storrier will auction off his historic Bathurst district home.
Blackdown farm estate will go to auction on April 11.
Property Observer first reported on the house listing in October last year, when Storrier was asking for $4 million-plus.
Failing to secure a buyer, the 56-hectare holding will be auctioned with a price guide of $3 million to $4 million.
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The estate boasts seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and three cottages. It also includes a library, guest accommodation and two studies.
Blackdown cost $2.5 million in 2008 when bought from the haircare product pioneer Anton Starling, who had sought more than $3.5 million.
Storrier and his wife Janet have since reportedly spent $1.5 million on extensive renovations of the homestead and developing gardens.
The 56-hectare property is four kilometres from the Bathurst city centre, at Eglinton.
The house was built for commissariat storekeeper Thomas Hawkins, his wife, Elizabeth, and their eight children after a land grant by Governor Thomas Brisbane.
Thomas Hawkins, a former British naval officer, had been appointed commissarial storekeeper at Bathurst in 1822.
Hawkins had spent 18 days to get across the Blue Mountains to Bathurst, where he selected the holding on the Macquarie River.
The Ian Stapleton-renovated homestead comes with a tennis court, pool, dressage arena, stable complex, and a recently constructed artist's studio in its grounds.
The estate is listed for auction through Meares and Associates and James Thompson from Professionals Bathurst.
The marketing agents say the farm can be developed as a corporate retreat or a boutique resort.
In November last year, the Storrier’s purchased Hopewood House – a Southern Highlands mansion owned by Fairfax Media director Michael Anderson and his wife – for around $6 million on delayed settlement terms.
Hopewood House was initially listed with $9 million price hopes over two years ago.
