Shafston House and its contents are up for sale in a significant auction
A private Brisbane college will be closed as one of Brisbane’s oldest estates and dozens of historical artefacts are put up for auction in one of the city’s most significant property sales for 150 years.
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Brisbane’s third-oldest estate and dozens of its historical artefacts will be put up for auction in one of the city’s most significant property sales for 150 years.
The picturesque Shafston Estate, sitting on the bank of the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point, will be sold and its international college closed as owner Keith Lloyd retires.
Mr Lloyd, an entrepreneur and former rich lister, will also sell his 110ft Southern Cross II superyacht.
“I have chosen to retire from many of my business interests and I am now offering Shafston Estate, as well as its contents for sale in the hope that the historical significance will be treasured and preserved into the future,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a sad time but you’ve got to move on.”
He said a sale was being negotiated for the estate, but declined to provide details citing a confidentiality agreement.
The Lloyd’s online auction includes dozens of pieces of antique furniture and collectables dating back to the early 1900s.
A rare 1768 sea chest salvaged from George III, a convict transporter shipwrecked on its way to Port Arthur in 1835, is also up for auction.
The heritage-listed Shafston House was built in several stages between 1851 and 1904 by pastoralist and explorer Henry Stuart.
In 1918 it was acquired by the Commonwealth to accommodate servicemen and was later the Brisbane headquarters for the RAAF before Mr Lloyd acquired the leasehold from restaurateur Gary Balkin in 1994.
Property records reveal the 1ha land alone is now worth up to $17.5m.
The international college, which has educated 120,000 students in the English language and vocational courses since 1996, will close.
Mr Lloyd said about 1000 students would frequent the college at one time, but COVID-19 had reduced the number to just six.
“It’s the worst it’s ever been and it could be quite some time for the international market to come back again,” he said.
“We thought it was all over six months ago but the virus has worsened in Italy, France and Spain.”
Mr Lloyd, who made his fortune as a shipbuilder, constructed his Southern Cross superyacht
to use as the mother ship for the successful 1983 challenge for the America’s Cup.
Online bidding for the yacht and Shafston House collectables is open through Lloyd’s Auctions until Monday at 7pm.
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