Mimosa, the 1894 mansion sells at five times St Marys median

Positioned opposite Victoria Park on a substantial 3,718 square metre block, Mimosa, the 1894 heritage listed Victorian Italianate mansion at St Marys has been sold.

The western Sydney home fetched $2 million mid-week. The suburb's median house price is at a record $377,500, according to RP Data.

Retaining original grandeur, it was the first time offered in over 60 years.

"It presented an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure a local landmark," the Dukes Real Estate Penrith marketing said.

It was sold through Craig Caughlan who listed it last November with $1.95 million plus hopes.

Caughlan, noting that many house sales have been for consolidation and residential redevelopment, estimated the sale at least doubled the previous record.

It was built for master tanner Andrew Thompson, in the early Penrith district days.

The local St Marys historical society notes it was built in 1894 by local builder Joseph Sainsbury.

Mimosa was considered to be the most expensive home built in the district at that time.

Apparently Andrew Thompson preferred to light the house with acetylene gas in preference to electricity and the home wasn’t switched to electricity until the 1950s.

He has started his first tannery with the help of an Irishman named John Briggs and he was the first Australian tanner to import the South African "Mimosa" bark which he found superior to the local product - this "Mimosa" emblem was used as his trade mark on his products and his family home in Pages Road.

Andrew married John’s daughter Lydia in 1873.

He died on his property “Lenore” on 30th October, 1918 and willed the family home to his spinster daughter Mary Thompson.