'Hurstville' sale breaks record

ONE of regional New South Wales’ most stately historic manors has sold for a record $2.15 million.

‘Hurstville’, a grand 1861 country house in Goulburn, was successfully listed through Ray White Goulburn principal Justin Gay, who had held the previous regional record of $1.15 million.

“I beat my old record, which lasted six years, of $1.15 million for anything under 4000sq m,” Mr Gay said.

“The enquiry was steady all the way through. It was coming from Sydney and local areas, but with the market subsiding in Sydney it put doubt into people’s minds that regional was the way but regional seems to be rallying.”

Mr Gay said the buyers were from farming land at Stubbo, just over a four hour drive north of Goulburn, and purchased the property to be closer to family.

“Farming and earthmoving is their history,” he said.

“Many years ago the gentleman used to stay around the corner in a big boarding house-like accomodation, and fell in love with Hurstville. He was at the auction of the property when it was derelict and sold previously, and had kept his eyes on it over the years.”

Mr Gay said the buyers were the loveliest couple and had even purchased some of the furniture with the house.

Sydney-based sellers Peter Caucino and Yvonne Aris extensively renovated Hurstville after purchasing it in 2004 from the Anglican Church, when it was six rundown flats.

“They restored the residence using original photos someone had given them,” Mr Gay said.

“They poured a million dollars into it 13 or 14 years ago, plus three years of their lives. This is the first time in 80 years it has been sold as a home.”

The five-bedroom house, on a 2567sq m parcel of land, contains formal living rooms, two studies, a wine cellar, garden room and vast entertaining terrace.

Gorgeous interiors feature chandeliers, fireplaces, bay windows, soaring 3.6m ceilings, French doors, marble benchtops and stone floors.

The Victorian Italianate house was designed for Anne Hurst, the widow of the wealthy Methodist Minister, The Reverend Benjamin Hurst, who died in 1857.