Dutton family's Rocky Point is a rugged beauty with a view

Rocky Point has been a much-loved weekender for the Dutton family for more than 100 years.

Rocky Point, Kangaroo Island.

Sitting high on a cliff in a ­secluded cove on one of Australia’s most beautiful and rugged islands, Rocky Point has been a much-loved weekender for the Dutton family for more than 100 years.

Commissioned by prominent South Australian Supreme Court judge Sir John Gordon in 1908, Kangaroo Island’s first beach house dissects 7km of pristine white sand and has played host to some of Australia’s most ­famous artists, poets and authors as well as British aristocrats.

The six-bedroom home sits on 5.21ha on Mad Mile Track at Brown Beach, not far from the ferry terminal at Penneshaw, connecting the island to the mainland, and was built from locally quarried limestone. The estate incorporates a large boat shed, a beachfront limestone boathouse for two boats, an offshore mooring and a two-car garage.

In summer, it is perfect for water sports, with the protected bay warmer and calmer than anywhere else on Kangaroo Island, given it has 7km of beach frontage.

Rocky Point, Kangaroo Island.

The estate is for sale through real estate agent Deborah Cullen of Cullen Royle. She would not comment on the asking price but Kangaroo Island sources say the family will not look at any offers below $8.5m.

Rocky Point has been loved by five generations of the wealthy pastoralist Dutton family.

Some of the notable guests to have laid their heads at Rocky Point include ­author David ­Malouf, who ­declared it “the most wonderful barefoot lifestyle to be had anywhere” and artist John Olsen, who called it a “zen house”. ­Writers of the ilk of Patrick White used the home and beach as inspiration for his short story Dead Roses. “There is nothing else ­visible in miles of bay, and from the sea it looks a little like a Greek monastery,” he wrote.

Dame Roma Mitchell, Australia’s first female governor, ­declared: “The Rocky Point visitor books are far more interesting than those at Government House.”

Many a vice regal party has stayed at the property, with locals in days gone by referring to the house as Government House. In fact Princess Diana’s father, the Earl of Spencer, has stayed at Rocky Point.

Ms Cullen expects the property, which was offered to the market last year, will generate significant buyer interest, given COVID-19. It includes two bathrooms, a sitting room, dining room, modern kitchen with pantry and two cellars inside its limestone walls.

“Both domestic and international buyers will be attracted to the very unique offering, particularly in the post-COVID world,” Ms Cullen said.

“Buyers are increasingly looking for luxury and unique properties at home in lieu of travelling overseas, and as an escape from dense urban cities, particularly now with the ability to live and work from anywhere.

Rocky Point, Kangaroo Island.

“Rocky Point is a private sanctuary set in a stunning natural environment, in a pristine part of Australia that is unspoiled.

“It is situated within the island’s most protected and prime north-facing bay, Eastern Cove.

“It has an extremely rare 365m of beach and clifftop frontage and is freehold title all the way down to the mean high-water mark.”

Ms Cullen said Rocky Point was an exciting opportunity to purchase an asset equipped for an exceptional generational legacy. “There is potential to customise and add further levels of sophistication to the house if desired, with development approval for the extensions already secured.’’

South Australian architect Ian Hannaford designed the extensions to be in harmony with the existing limestone house and the surrounding land and seascapes.

The additions included three new large bedrooms, extensive indoor areas for relaxation, entertaining or board meetings plus a children’s retreat, said Ms Cullen, adding that Rocky Point had potential as a luxury tourist retreat.

Expressions of interest close on Feburary 16, unless sold prior.