Blackheath cottage sold by potting doyen Peter Rushforth
A Blackheath cottage in the New South Wales Blue Mountains, owned by potter Peter Rushforth, sold for $1.02 million.
Set on 6.5 hectares, it came with his studio and orchard.
Le Var has been the mountain sanctuary of one of Australia's national treasures for several decades.
Art critic John McDonald wrote on Rushforth late last year during a S.H. Ervin Gallery exhibition of the potter's work, the largest since a survey at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1985.
"At that time, Rushforth was a mere 65 years old; today he is 92 and still working assiduously in his Blue Mountains studio," McDonald wrote in Fairfax papers.
He noted Rushforth's artistic interests developed while being held as a prisoner of war in Changi.
He was appointed the first pottery teacher at the National Art School in the early 1950s – then known as East Sydney Technical College. The main farmhouse has one section built with thick walls out of local stone, the rest of the flowing house in weatherboard.
Domain Group's senior economist recently noted overall Blue Mountains house prices has increase 10.4% in the year to June.
Blackheath saw 13.6% annual growth, the fourth best result according to Domain Group which had Blaxland's 19.3% annual growth the best.
Blaxland - $537,500, 19.3%
Leura - $577,500, 19.1%
Faulconbridge - $500,000, 17%
Blackheath - $420,500, 13.6%
Hazelbrook - $392,500, 12.1%