Mixed-use estate to fuel tourism in Murrumbateman

A Zierholz brewery will join a range of tourist-friendly retailers to form the village square of Murrumbateman’s new residential development, Fairley.

The village square will provide a gateway to the 108-home estate and developer Graeme Shaw said he hopes it will help boost tourism in the town.

Positioned on the Barton Highway to the immediate north of the current town centre and adjacent to the new 52-room Abode Hotel, the location is well placed to build on the town’s existing infrastructure.

Christoph Zierholz is finalising his plans for the largest commercial site – a brewery, bar and restaurant – and said the 900-square-metre site was a good fit for his Fyshwick-based business.

“We’ve been looking around for some time now for a periphery-of-Canberra venue, partly because we’re a bit restricted here in terms of growth,” Mr Zierholz said.

“We’d like a bit more space to have a brewery with more capability because the goal for Zierholz was to grow a regional brand and be able to produce beer for Canberra and the region.”

Mr Shaw said he hopes Zierholz will be joined by a bakery, local produce store and tourist shops, as well as community facilities including a chemist, medical practice and post office.

The village square will front the Barton Highway with residential development rising up the 19-hectare site’s gentle slope.

Homes are subject to a single-level restriction to ensure every resident has access to the rolling rural views.

While recent residential developments in the town have been dominated by small acreages of about two hectares, Fairley’s blocks average 1000 square metres.

“There are people who want the country lifestyle without the work,” Mr Shaw said.

“At Fairley they get the relaxed rural lifestyle and it’s still close to Civic.”

Mr Shaw said the development has been particularly attractive to young Canberra families who want to bring up their children in a country town, yet still be within a 30-minute commute of the centre of Canberra.

Medium-density terrace homes will be built adjacent to Fairley’s commercial component.

Mr Shaw says the single-residential blocks will average less than $300 per square metre, which represents excellent value when compared with some of Canberra’s newer suburbs.

Stage one is ready for construction and stage two, which includes 44 blocks, is about 50 per cent sold. Parcels range from $285,000 to $330,000.

All homes will be within an easy stroll to the village square.

Mr Zierholz said he hopes the new village square will attract locals and tourists.

“I reckon it will be a great thing for Murrumbateman,” Mr Zierholz said.

“There will be a good amount of local people who will hopefully make it their own during the week and on the weekends there will be the tourist trade including Canberrans.”

Mr Zierholz said the Fyshwick brewery would remain open, at least until the Murrumbateman site was up and running.

He said he would keep the Fyshwick venue or sell it to another Canberra brewer hoping to start a new business.

The new subdivision in Murrumbateman will see the site come full circle.

Fairley is positioned on an old cattle and sheep farm, which was known as Hawthorn Station.

Hawthorn Station was home to a local blacksmith, inn, store and workers’ homes and considered the area’s hub before the existing village was built.

Fairley’s remaining commercial sites will be available for sale or lease from next week. Mr Shaw said he expects the village square will be complete before the end of next year.

See fairleylife.com.au.