Sydney Polo Club owners Peter and Rebecca Higgins to sell estate

After 30 years, Mortgage Choice co-founder Peter Higgins and wife Rebecca have listed their sprawling estate along the Hawkesbury River.

Whether wanting to retrace celebrity footsteps or enjoy some equestrian athleticism, the prestigious Sydney Polo Club is on the market looking for its next owner.

Set across 14 different land titles which have been purchased over time, the grand estate set along the Hawkesbury River at Richmond, just over an hour northwest of Sydney, now boasts 115ha of manicured internationally acclaimed grounds.

The Sydney Polo Club is one of Australia’s premier equine centres of excellence, offering three established polo fields, 38 premium brick horse stables and two undercover riding arenas, which saw the site play host to the sport’s world championships in 2017.

Keen film buffs may also recognise the grounds from Baz Luhrmann’s epic film Australia, and the opening scenes of his 2013 retelling of The Great Gatsby ­starring Leonardo DiCaprio. More recently, Peter Rabbit 2, released this year, was filmed at the location.

Several high fashion photo shoots and reality television shows have also used the grounds.

One of the residences at the Sydney Polo Club.

After 30 years, current owners, Mortgage Choice co-founder Peter Higgins and wife Rebecca, have decided to stay closer to the coast after once again taking up an interest in sailing.

“There is something special about property with it’s beautiful lake in the middle on 30 acres,” Mr Higgins says.

“It all just came together in the early 2000s that everyone wanted to sell to me and that gave me a blank canvas to make a beautiful property.

“It’s a wildlife paradise.”

The Higginses have bred polo ponies on the farm for the past 12 years, alongside cattle and growing crops. But now it is time to move on.

“Hosting the Polo World Championships had been my (goal) since the year 2000 and being able to provide the venue in 2014 was a bucket list item to tick off,” he says.

Immaculately manicured landscaping and more than 14,000 established trees compliment the renovated homestead which is accompanied by three workers’ cottage, with the length of the property running along the edge of the Hawkesbury River.

Apart from the equestrian facilities, the ground is also ripe for other endeavours with extensive irrigation throughout entire property, with water access licences for 507 megalitres per annum.

It is the second time the couple have listed the sprawling property on the market following a quiet 2019 campaign seeking $75m but withdrew after suffering health issues. This time around no price has been set, with a tender process requiring all offers to be submitted by October 29.

The well-positioned sprawling landholding has many winning attributes, says Ray White Rural agent Chris Malone.

Ray White rural agent Chris Malone, who is handling the sale, expects the club to appeal to myriad local and international buyer profiles.

A tender campaign was agreed upon to let the market decide the property’s value given the strength of current conditions.

“The most special thing about this property is the foresight to put it all together,” Mr Malone said.

“People are seeing a holding of this size – 115ha – an hour out from the city as a good long-term play.

“It is also on the Hawkesbury River, which is where the aristocracy had its first holding in Australia. That history also makes it highly desirable.

“This is a marvellous asset, the vendor is committed to selling and this property will be sold.”

Australia’s rural markets are expected to have a solid year of sales in the coming months on the back of strong fundamentals, including cattle and grain prices and opportune weather.

“People are buying quality assets and Australian soil, particularly with low interest rates, seasonal conditions and strong commodities prices. Everything is booming,” Mr Malone said.