Former MP’s ‘Mt Kilcoy dress circle’ farm on market

A former LNP minister and her husband have put their 204ha Mount Kilcoy property, which features an architecturally-designed home, on the market.

A five-week sale campaign has begun for former LNP minister Di McCauley and husband Ian's 204ha Valinor Park property in the Somerset Region.

A FIVE-week sale campaign has begun for former LNP minister Di McCauley and husband Ian’s 204ha Valinor Park property in Mount Kilcoy.

The Somerset Region farm will go under the hammer at an online auction on Friday, June 19, after the marketing campaign through Ray White Rural Queensland principal Jez McNamara.

The mixed opportunity acreage property, listed for sale on May 15, features an architecturally-designed home with a guest wing and rolling green pastures perfect for grazing.

The Belmont House homestead was designed by Sparc Architects’ Kelly Gray and based on the couple’s vision for a mix of a family home and rural getaway.

A five-week sale campaign has begun for former LNP minister Di McCauley and husband Ian's 204ha Valinor Park property in the Somerset Region.

“The house was built from scratch and we made a list of what we felt were our priorities for a house because we never agree on anything but when we exchanged lists they were almost identical,” Ms McCauley said.

The lush gardens and tranquil outdoor spaces by the pool and pond were high on Ms McCauley’s list while Mr McCauley said he could be thanked for the large windows that showcased views across the Mount Kilcoy hills.

“I wanted ambience, that was the thing I prioritised so I asked for nice sized hallways and plenty of windows to look out at the view,” Mr McCauley said.

A five-week sale campaign has begun for former LNP minister Di McCauley and husband Ian's 204ha Valinor Park property in the Somerset Region.

Ms McCauley said she chose to include water in the design to create a calming atmosphere and was insistent there be space for a large garden that included her poultry.

They also currently keep 100 composite breeder cows so they can stay involved with the livestock trade, however Mr McNamara said there was opportunity for a wider scale of farming initiatives.

A five-week sale campaign has begun for former LNP minister Di McCauley and husband Ian's 204ha Valinor Park property in the Somerset Region.

“They keep cattle quite easily with the fertile soil, topography and amount of water but the property could be used for anything whether it be horses or horticulture,” Mr McNamara said.

Mr McNamara, who is handling the marketing campaign, said already there had been strong interest from buyers in southeast and western Queensland looking to buy in the “dress circle of Kilcoy”.

Virtual inspections and online auctions are nothing new for rural agents.

“It’s quite normal and not a big change showing buyers properties who are quite far away,” he said.

Ms McCauley was the Callide MP from 1986-1998.

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