Southern Highlands homestead Mt Ashby hits market for $15m

Set on 40ha, the grand Southern Highlands homestead, restaurant and antiques business Mt Ashby has hit the market with a price guide of $15m.

The main Mt Ashby stone homestead.

Set on 40ha, the grand Southern Highlands homestead, restaurant and antiques business Mt Ashby has hit the market with a price guide of $15m.

Sporting a popular French cellar door restaurant that can seat at least 60 guests indoors and outdoors, as well as an antiques business and winery, Mt Ashby was established by antiques and homewares expert Sally Beresford and husband Chris Harvey.

Selling agent Cameron McKil­lop, director of The Agency Southern Highlands, says the Nowra Rd, Moss Vale home, on the southern tablelands 108km south of Sydney, has acquired tourism zoning.

The homestead interior.

While there is a concept plan in place for the development of a luxury five-star, 60-room hotel and 30 cottages, plans are more advanced for a 170-seat function centre that has council approval to proceed.

The homestead features four bedrooms with adjoining ensuites and beautiful vistas, while there are heated floors in the bathrooms, as well as powder room and laundry.

Mr McKillop said if the luxury resort development proceeded, it would position Mt Ashby as a renowned tourism destination for the Southern Highlands. “Reminiscent of a grand European-inspired estate, the stunning stone-constructed main house boasts four sumptuous bedrooms, four lavish bathrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen and palatial living ­spaces set across a magnificent floorplan,” Mr McKillop said.

“The separately located Mt Ashby Dining Room is a divine space that seats 40 people and spills out to a sunbathed terrace seating over 60 people and overlooking the vineyards and surrounds.”

Inside the antiques store.

The homestead is reached via a picturesque tree-lined driveway, and outbuildings include a 1918-built corrugated iron shed.

The Mt Ashby Dining Room is constructed of rendered stone walls and features French-style slab floors. A statement French fireplace and windows overlook the terrace and gardens.

“There’s a lot of activity for lifestyle property in the Southern Highlands, anything on five-plus acres up to 100 acres [40ha] we are seeing a huge amount of buyer ­demand,” Mr McKillop said.

He added that there had been a surge in prices in the area over the past 12 months.

Mr McKillop said the vendors had decided to downsize within the area and said the expressions of interest would close by the end of November.