Berry Estate homestead on riverfront acreage

Nestled into the corner of a massive 27.13-acre waterfront block, 680 Bolong Road, Bolong is quite literally a “once in a generation” property.

The estate has remained in the same family since it was acquired from David Berry of the original Berry Estate in 1906.

Nestled amid mature gardens, the delightful character home constructed in 1916 is a “heritage item” as opposed to heritage listed – an important distinction, as it means fewer restrictions on making improvements. It’s also part of the reason the home has retained all the charm typical of its era, updated for modern convenience.

Characterised by ornate features, original wood floors, leadlight windows and soaring 12-foot-high ceilings, hints of the homestead’s story are on display at every corner.

With an unusual four-bedroom, four-bathroom configuration owing to the chapter of its history spent as a bed and breakfast, the home is primed to resume this use or cater to a multigenerational family, according to selling agent Tim Muckenschnabl of Raine & Horne.

“It makes hosting guests a breeze, but also provides space and privacy for families with teenagers or older parents,” he says.

The house boasts an elegant entrance hallway, a country-style kitchen with casual dining, a sunroom, a dining area and a separate formal lounge with a fireplace – the ideal spot to curl up with a good book.

Upstairs, a spacious “retreat” takes in stunning views on all sides.

“It’s nice and elevated, so you can get a vantage point of the escarpment on one side and river on the other,” Tim says.

“It’s also an opportunity for the new owner to push out and open up an outdoor area that encircles the entire homestead.”

But the house itself is not the only drawcard to this beautiful property. Starting with a wraparound verandah with escarpment views on one side and river views on the other, the property has plenty to recommend it beyond the front doors.

Extensive outbuildings include the original dairy, a machinery shed, a hay shed and additional storage sheds – nods to its time as a dairy farm. It is well fenced with various paddocks, facilitating easy livestock movement.

The gardens boast an abundance of fruit trees producing juicy mandarins, oranges, figs, lemons and limes.

“The current owners have sold produce grown here and may even have run a sort of garden market,” Tim says.

“The current owners will miss the garden and the mature gardens, with fruit trees that tend to be in season year-round due to the fertile soil.

“They’ll also miss sitting with a cup of tea on the verandah, looking out at the escarpment and jumping into their Cessna 182 for joyrides, thanks to the airstrip and a hangar suitable to light aircraft.”

The acreage includes a 750-m stretch of frontage along the Shoalhaven River, offering the pleasures of tranquil pastimes such as kayaking and fishing.

“The possibilities are endless on a property like this, as it has demonstrated for more than a century,” Tim says.

“You could return it to its former glory as a bed and breakfast or dairy farm, grow and sell produce or run a commercial flower garden; you could raise beef cattle, sheep or alpacas or turn it into a hobby farm.

“Or you could simply enjoy all it offers, which is plenty.”

Ideally situated just 10 minutes from Seven Mile Beach and the Nowra CBD, and 15 minutes from Berry, opportunities like this are rare on the South Coast.

Expressions of Interest for 680 Bolong Road, Bolong close 5 pm Monday 19 August – for more information call Raine & Horne’s Jacqui Crapp on 0429 104 011 or Tim Muckenschnabl on 0407 356 631.