Scotland Island: Sydney's secluded island a world away from the city

When Peter Heffernan’s parents wanted to buy a property on Scotland Island back in the 1950s, their solicitor said they were mad and refused to do the conveyancing.

There were only a handful of houses, no power, and to top it all off; you had to get there by boat.

“What people don’t understand is that’s the attraction,” says Heffernan with a laugh.

“Your privacy here is unbelievable. But you can make it as social as you want. You can be involved with activities or run your own race.”

Heffernan, now a full-time resident, has had a lifelong association with the island.

With help from a new solicitor, his parents went ahead and bought a weekender and the family regularly spent weekends and holidays on the island.

In 2002, Heffernan and his wife Lyn bought their own weekender, moving in permanently six years ago when their kids had finished school.

Water wonderland

The couple enjoy north-facing views across Pittwater to the national park and peninsula, and let the Barrenjoey Lighthouse wink them off to sleep each night.

“My older brother once said to me: ‘Acreage is lovely, but you can only watch so many cows and sheep’,” Heffernan says.

“There’s always something happening on the water. Almost every night there’s a sailing race, and on Saturday there are lots of kids learning to sail. We love watching all that.”

Agent Murray Bakker grew up on the island, and after a short stint on the mainland, he moved back with his partner three years ago.

He’s passionate about life on the water surrounded by nature.

“Being this close to the water means you can go out for a sail every afternoon,” he says.

“You can drop in the Laser or the jet ski, go for a swim or go spearfishing; it’s all on your doorstep.”

Country-style charm

Bakker says the island has a coastal country town feel, with a solid community at its core.

“The community is a big factor for me; it’s on par with the beauty of the place,” he says.

“It used to be a very quirky, arty place; now it’s very family-oriented and very social.”

Prices on the island have been rising steadily as more people realise they can enjoy a lifestyle removed from the hustle of the mainland while being just a short boat ride from urban amenity.

The top-10 reported sales over the past three years were all $2.5 million-plus, with Bakker’s most recent sale in March an off-market deal fetching $5 million.

“With the values the way they are now, we could move wherever we wanted to, but moving doesn’t interest us,” says Heffernan.

“My mates say they’ll carry me out of here in a box!”

One to watch

Offering north-facing views over Pittwater, Palm Beach and Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, this waterfront home is flooded with natural light and comes with a deep-water jetty, a self-contained boathouse, a lush garden and timeless finishes in New Guinea rosewood and sandstone.

Stone Real Estate Avalon Palm Beach‘s Murray Bakker is accepting expressions of interest with a guide of $4.4 million. 

Expressions of Interest

61 Robertson Road, Scotland Island NSW 2105

4

2

-

View property