Orange ‘a little England’ for city escapees

Orange, the scenic capital of the NSW Central Tablelands, is fast becoming as popular as the state’s burgeoning Southern Highlands.

Photographer and writer Pip Orr is selling her historic spread just outside Millthorpe.

Talk to any agent in Orange, the scenic capital of the NSW Central Tablelands, and they will tell you the area is fast becoming as popular as the state’s burgeoning Southern Highlands, closer to Sydney.

The economies of Orange and the nearby historic village of Millthorpe are no doubt buoyed by various government agency employers as well as by the presence of Newcrest Mining, the world’s largest goldmining company.

Sydney investment bankers, horse breeders and property developers have recently made Orange and nearby historic Millthorpe home – whether as a permanent base or as a weekender.

Ray White Emms Mooney agent Stewart Murphy says Orange and Millthorpe are popular with buyers because the area is like “a little England”.

“It’s beautiful, soft countryside, and it is more affordable than the Southern Highlands, plus there are a lot of beautiful, gorgeous old bluestone buildings,” Mr Murphy says.

The median value for a house in Orange lifted from $328,464 in May 2017 to $365,613 a year later according to CoreLogic figures. By last month the median value of a house in the regional city had increased to $512,586.

Mr Murphy says Orange’s burgeoning food and wine scene is flowing out to Millthorpe which has a village appeal and is accessible also to Bathurst, which is just 35 minutes’ drive.

Photographer and writer Pip Orr is selling her historic spread, including a former Cobb & Co Inn, just outside Millthorpe via auction on July 23 through Mr Murphy.

Orr wants to downsize from the near 4ha property fronting Forest Reefs Road to a smaller holding in the area – taking her three corgis, Flynn, Sunny Roo and Bailey, as well as her two horses and a pet sheep with her.

Mr Murphy said bidding was expected to start in the low $1m range and work its way up.

The original bluestone property known as The Fitzroy was built around 1850 as a Cobb & Co Inn. Apart from its four bedrooms it has stables which have been converted into extra accommodation.

The homestead has several living areas with fireplaces, a country-style kitchen and enclosed eastern veranda. There’s also a rambling garden with mature trees, a cottage vegetable garden and a paved alfresco area with a fountain.

The Fitzroy has productive farmland and 400m double frontage to Spring Creek.