Beyond Sydney: Why Mudgee is luring city slickers out west

After spending his whole life living by the water and building boats, it took a lot of convincing for Andrew Hudson to move away from Sydney’s Manly.

But since moving to the pretty wine region of Mudgee, he wouldn’t be anywhere else. Andrew and his wife Vicki are selling their Mudgee home of 13 years – a sprawling bed and breakfast on a hectare of land in the centre of town. But they won’t be going far – only next door.

The couple have run the eight-bedroom property as their business since 2003 and now want to spend precious time with their 10-month-old grandson and relaxing by sailing up the east coast.

They were attracted to the property by the lifestyle that living on the riverfront offered. Vicki says Mudgee has got “everything going for it”. “It’s attractive to tourists, it has wineries and we’ve got great restaurants.”

Andrew says: “You’ve got to find somewhere as good as Mudgee before I’ll move out of Mudgee.”

The main brick home at Evanslea was built in 1860. It has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, formal and informal living areas overlooking the large grounds with established gardens, a pool, tennis court and a private lake.

Also on the property are four self-contained guesthouses.

Vicki says although they are looking forward to a change of pace, they didn’t find running the property as an accommodation business onerous.

“We don’t do many breakfasts any more – all the cottages are self-contained. Last week we were down at Huskisson and we just ran it remotely with the phone and just kept in contact with guests, so it’s pretty easy.”

Cleaners do the daily upkeep of the cottages.

Selling agent Andrew Blackman of First National Real Estate Mudgee  says the property is top of the range.

“I’ve not seen a better place in the district. It’s quite unique in that it’s on four acres of land right on the river yet you’re still in town.”

The property, at 146 Market Street, Mudgee, is for sale for $1.8 million to $1.98 million.

Bundanoon
26 Rosenthal Avenue
Guide: $1.2 million
4 bed, 5 bath, 4 cars
Built 1950s, renovated 2009
Land 2194 square metres
Inspect Saturday 10.30am-11.30am
Harcourts Southern Highlands, 0407 450 575

From the outside this Bundanoon beauty has retained its original weatherboard appeal but inside there has been a host of upgrades.

You won’t need to worry about feeling too cool or too warm, thanks to high-performing double-glazed PVC windows and efficient honeycomb blinds. The home is also fully insulated under the floor and in the walls and ceilings.

For heating there is both a Jetmaster fireplace and a zoned geothermal heating system.

Meanwhile, the bills are kept down thanks to a 2.5-kilowatt solar power system and a 50,000-litre water tank.

Some of the home’s original features include polished timber floorboards, 2.7-metre ceilings and art deco cornices.

Beside the main property, which is built over two levels, is a self-contained apartment with a double bedroom. It has access to the courtyard and parking areas but is also linked to the main home.

See more at:

domain.com.au/2013172031

Coorabell

​9/213 Coorabell Road

Guide: $1.3m – $1.4m

4 bed, 3 bath, 2 cars

Built 2016

Land 5937 square metres

Inspect By appointment

Auction December 10

LJ Hooker Byron Bay, 0417 780 795

Beautifully finished with polished concrete, bespoke cabinetry and a large deck looking out over the rolling countryside, this home is a short drive from Federal in the Byron bay hinterland.

It’s in the perfect setting – at the end of a private road that passes a natural creek with swimming holes.

The position is also well thought out with the living, media room and main deck all facing north.

Among the finishes in this custom-designed property are Australian hardwoods and rammed-earth feature walls.

A lovely feature of the property are the high ceilings and banks of clerestory windows to let in extra light and warmth in winter and release heat during the summer months.

And the design is perfect for older children and visitors as three of the four bedrooms have en suites.

See more at:

domain.com.au/2013202188

Burrawang

22 Burrawang Station Road

Guide: $1.45 m – $1.5 m

3 bed, 2 bath, 16 cars

Built  1930s, renovated circa 2006

Land 1.24 hectares

Inspect Sat, 12.30pm-1.30pm

Belle Property, 0412 692 916

See more at:

domain.com.au/2013203285

Twelve months after buying this picturesque country cottage and updating the interiors with new flooring, on-trend subway tiles in the kitchen and a large Jetmaster fireplace, the owners have decided to move abroad.

Up for offer is a single-level weatherboard set in what agent Di Dixon of Belle Property Bowral describes as arboretum-like surrounds.

“The lawns are like green velvet,” says Dixon.

The English-themed gardens are planted with oaks, black walnut, daphne and laurel hedges.

The property, known as Mirrabooka, oozes country charm. It has double-hung timber windows and a wide verandah that wraps around the north-eastern facades. French doors lead off several rooms – include the master bedroom and the meals area – to the outdoors.

Central gas heating keeps the home toasty in winter.

Outside there is a covered carport and a five-bay powered shed, which also has a toilet and running water.

Bellingen

4 Hilliana Close

Guide: $629,000

4 bed, 3 bath, 4 cars

Built  2004

Land 847square metres

Inspect Sat, 10.30am-11am

Cardow & Partners Property Bellingen, 0413 318 586

See more at: domain.com.au/2013202451

Tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac, this double-storey home is on an elevated site.

Upstairs there is a large open-plan kitchen-living-dining area that flows onto a spacious deck that hugs three sides of the home.

Three bedrooms, including the master, which has a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite, are also on the upper level. Parents will be glad to know the main bedroom has its own deck area.

The fourth bedroom is downstairs, along with the laundry and a sizeable rumpus room that could also be used as a guest bedroom.