Fernhill estate returns to market after cemetery plans killed off

The Greek Revival homestead Fernhill on Sydney’s outskirts that hosted last year’s finale of The Bachelor reality television series has been returned to the trophy market after it failed to get state government approval to be redeveloped into a cemetery.

Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust had agreed to purchase the historic Mulgoa property in March for close to $30 million amid plans to expand Sydney’s burial space given forecasts of a critical shortage within the next two decades. 

Despite plans to preserve one of Australia’s finest examples of Georgian architecture and delegating only one-third of the 383-hectare site to the cemetery, the Rookwood trust has had to walk away from the deal after failing to gain approval from the Minister for Lands and Forestry, Paul Toole, within its due diligence period.

​The agreed six-month exchange period was extended by one month, but lapsed on Tuesday. 

Objections to the cemetery were being spearheaded by local residents who were later backed by objections from Penrith city councillors over concerns of the impact of a cemetery on the heritage landscape surrounding the 1840s-built mansion.

The estate is best known as the former home of property tycoon Warren Anderson before bankruptcy forced him out and the keys were handed to financier Angas Securities in 2011.

Businessman Simon Tripp and his wife Brenda were reported as buyers in 2012 after he lodged a caveat on the title claiming an interest.

In a statement issued on Thursday,  Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Trust chief executive George Simpson said: “With no formal approval from the Minister at this time RGCRT is unable to proceed with the purchase of Fernhill estate. As such, we understand the vendor will place the property back on the market.”

Selling agent Ken Jacobs, of Christie’s International, is dealing with parties who had expressed interest in the property should the sale not proceed.

Mr Toole declined to comment.

Lisa Harrold, who headed up local objections as co-ordinator of the Mulgoa Valley Landcare Group, said she was “thrilled” when told the cemetery was not going ahead.

“We agree there is a cemetery shortage issue that needs to be addressed in Sydney, but it didn’t make sense to build what would be the second largest cemetery in Australia in this historic Mulgoa precinct,” said Ms Harrold.

“There is a golden triangle of heritage landscape between Cox’s Cottage, St Thomas’s Church and Fernhill estate that has remained unchanged since colonial times, and the cemetery planned for the land east of Fernhill towards Cox Cottage would have changed all that.”

Cox Cottage was built in 1810 by pastoralist William Cox, and remains the oldest in habited weatherboard cottage in the state. Fernhill was built by his son Edward Cox in the 1840s and remained in the family until 1896 when it was sold to the Wright family, of the Wright, Heaton and Company carrying firm.

The eight-bedroom homestead has a 16-seater dining room and a ballroom, and comes with additional cottages, a swimming pool, a lake, a 2400-metre horse racing track, stables, and equestrian facilities for dressage, show jumping and eventing.

The trophy estate was widely reported to have hosted former prime minister Paul Keating and his family during summer holidays under Mr Anderson’s ownership.

The original stables were home to two Melbourne Cup winners, Chester in 1877 and Grand Flaneur in 1880, and the sandstone building next to them dates back to 1812.