Garden Island in Port Stephens on the market for just the second time since 1885

It’s a rare and tempting opportunity – a whole island for sale and less than three hours from Sydney. 

Especially when it comes with a two-bedroom house, plus guest accommodation and 4046 square metres of land, and the furniture, a buggy, a boat and a car are thrown in. 

Agent Adrian Culpin, from McGrath Terrigal, says he’s been “absolutely slammed” by the interest in the property so far.

“I posted it on Facebook on Tuesday night – I literally shared it on my Facebook feed” he says. “Then McGrath on Wednesday, and the other sites on Thursday.

“I’ve had phone calls from the United States, Fiji, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast. 

“We haven’t even shown anyone the island yet. We’re waiting for a break in the weather.”

Garden Island is one of about 20 islands in the Port Stephens area north of Sydney, but it’s the only one that can be built on. The owner bought the property in 2001 for $480,000 from a local pioneering family, the Whites, who had purchased it from the AA Company in 1885. 

At the time it was undeveloped and covered in flowering plants. Once it was completely cleared, materials for the home were brought across by barge. Designed in the style of Australian bush and Japanese architecture by Murwillumbah-based Phillip Pratt, the house was built by local Laurie Murphy in 2003, with the jetties completed in 2004.

The nearest boat ramp is at Karuah, which the agent describes as “the easiest boat ramp to get to from the freeway without getting your feet wet”.

There’s also room for a helipad, should someone wish to install one. The sales process is in the early stages and open to expressions of interest, with a preliminary price guide of the high 3 million dollars to low 4 million dollars. 

“You can finish work today and be up in two, three hours”, says Culpin.

“Whoever buys it – I don’t think it’ll come on the market again.”