Iconic farm estate Tullaree, at centre of ‘Lady of the Swamp’ vanishing, up for sale

The property of Margaret Clement, a wealthy beneficiary whose life fell into ruin before she mysteriously vanished, is up for sale in Gippsland.

Searchers setting out from Tullaree homestead to look for heiress Margaret Clement, who came to be known locally as the Lady of the Swamp, in 1952.

An iconic farm at the centre of one of the state’s most enduring missing person mysteries is on the market.

Margaret Clement — known as the “Lady of the Swamp” — vanished 73 years ago from the South Gippsland property known as Tullaree.

The wealthy Ms Clement was a Melbourne society figure who travelled the world and was once invited to Buckingham Palace.

Her Scottish immigrant father, Peter, made his fortune in gold when he bought the Long Tunnel Mine at Walhalla in the 19th century.

Margaret Clement, AKA Lady of the Swamp, with her dog Dingo.

Margaret Clement was once a belle of Melbourne society.

Ms Clement and her sister Jeanie later bought Tullaree, with its 17-room mansion and vast cattle holdings.

In its pomp, there were two cooks, three maids, two manservants, a butler, a groom and two gardeners on staff.

The property later fell into disrepair and Ms Clement into poverty, her sister dying in 1950.

Cattle duffers stole stock which kept the prime grazing land in shape and drainage was neglected.

Ms Clement was reduced to begging family members for money and wading through waist-deep water in an old coat with a fur collar to the town of Buffalo, kilometres away.

Tullaree, the station homestead, fell into disrepair late in Ms Clement’s life.

The historic Victorian-Federation five-bedroom homestead is sure to attract interest.

Tullaree became infested with snakes and feral animals before Ms Clement suddenly vanished in May, 1952, igniting decades of speculation.

A major search by police and 200 volunteers from the local area found no trace of her.

One theory had it that she was swept away in flood waters and into the sea, via the nearby Tarwin River.

But that version was contradicted by the discovery of the walking stick she used to stay mobile at the back of the homestead.

Suspicion fell on a neighbour, former Footscray footballer Stanley Livingstone, who denied involvement.

The Tullaree estate spans 411 hectares (1,016 acres).

The iconic home features five, bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Tullaree had seen better days by the time Ms Clement vanished in 1952.

Tullaree is one of South Gippsland’s most iconic rural estates.

Cattle on the estate.

He blamed a relative of Ms Clement who, in turn, pointed the finger at Livingstone.

An inquest in 1980 failed to deliver answers.

Police believed bones found in 1978 were those of Ms Clement but expert testimony had it that they were those of an elderly indigenous woman.

Tullaree, which is being sold by Elders Real Estate, has been painstakingly restored over the decades.

The 411ha property features the original five-bedroom homestead and a four-bedroom residence for a manager or staff with separate private access.

Originally published as Iconic farm estate Tullaree, at centre of ‘Lady of the Swamp’ vanishing, up for sale