Pine Ridge: one country retreat, a total of 18 rooms and a lot of history

Pastoralist George Henry Cox established Pine Ridge station north of Mudgee on the advice of fellow pastoralist and explorer William Lawson, leasing out 2428 hectares for the production of wheat, vegetables and dairy produce to feed those on the goldfields.

It was clearly a lucrative trade given the grand homestead complete with turret he built on the property in 1860 remains as one of the area’s most notable historic homes.

The station was subdivided after World War I into soldier settlements, leaving 964 hectares that, in the mid-1970s, were bought by the late Rear-Admiral David Charles Wells, a former Commander of the Australian Fleet, and his wife Moira.

The 18-room homestead with separate manager’s house and guest cottage last traded in 2015 for $1.55 million, and since then has received new floors, renovations to the bathrooms and a kitchen and, more pertinently given the drought,  new bores and freshwater tanks to replace the well.

The floorplan remains true to the life of the squattocracy. Grand entry hall, formal lounge and dining rooms with pressed metal ceilings, fireplaces and French doors, a billiard room, smoker’s lounge, library, eight bedrooms, an office and far more humble servant’s quarters.

However, by far the most important boost to its values was the drought breaking about six months ago, according to Herron Todd White senior property valuer Allister Rodgers.

“The Dunedoo area has long been favoured by pastoralists. It’s known for long-held tenure of the land based on successful operations, and values were rising solidly year on year until the drought in 2017,” he said.

As rain continues to fall this year, commodity prices rise and interest rates are kept at historic lows, land values are again making solid gains.

Sydneysiders are being forged to rethink country life due to COVID-19, which Rodgers says is fueling a solid appetite for these lifestyle properties, particularly when they come with a historic homestead of the calibre of Pine Ridge.

Pine Ridge returns to the market for $3.5 million through McGrath Central Tablelands’ Adam Woods.

SOLD - $3,300,000

"Pine Ridge" Narangarie Road, Dunedoo NSW 2844

8

3

-

View property