Which season for Koonawarra, Mount Wilson rental estate?

Which season for Koonawarra, Mount Wilson rental estate?
Jonathan ChancellorDecember 7, 2020

The Koonawarra estate, some 24 acres of private established gardens in the Blue Mountains, has been listed as a rental estate.

It's located at Mount Wilson, a popular weekend destination for more than a century. A little corner of rural England in the middle of an ancient rainforest with special homes including Farcry, Sefton Hall, Donna Buang, Sefton Cottage, Dennarque, Campanella, Woodstock, Lindfield Park, Merrygarth, Yengo, Eastcote, Shasta Lodge, and Wynstay.

The original Koonawarra gardens were designed during the 1880s by Charles Moore, who also designed the Sydney Botanic Gardens. 

The Scottish botanist Charles Moore, who trained at Kew and Regent's Park, arrived in Sydney in the Medway in 1848. He was in charge of the gardens until 1896.

The minimum lease term is six months at $1,800 a week through Potts Point agent Lynette Laming, so which two seasons?

"Make memories at Koonawarra," she said.

As ever, our property contrarians Margie Blok and Jonathan Chancellor can't quite decide when best to go to take in the surrounds of English and European-style gardens, rainforest and mountain views. But they agree there will be plenty of mountain walks and long leisurely, sociable dinners.

HE SAID:jc-silhouette-5

It would make a wonderful winter retreat just two hours from Sydney, then staying on for spring.

I am happy to take Cherry Cottage, the one loft bedroom cottage for guests. It was all originally part of Dennarque.

Charles Moore, the first director of the Botanical Gardens, also designed nearby Yengo that features an exquisite walled garden, embellished with 16th-century Catalan wrought-iron work.

I'd really like to see snow too, and stay for spring to do all the walks - Waterfall Reserve, the rainforest pocket in Davies Lane, the Cathderal of Ferns, Pheasants Cave, Chinamans Hat and perhaps even the track to the Wollangambe River.

mb-silhouette-4SHE SAID:

Koonawarra Cottage is the charming single storey three bedroom cottage with a large front verandah which looks out over the expansive parklike gardens.

Every window has garden views, as you'd expect. 

I have always throught Mount Wilson was best placed for autumn viewing. Especially this year to escape the prevailing humidity of Sydney.

This property also has a tennis court so imagine the sunny exercise you'd get before the chill sets in, and the days are spent in front of the fireplace.

I seem to recall it was formerly the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Armitage in the 1960s, but I could chase all that up with a bit more study on the chilly nights.

I once read that the walk from one end of Mount Wilson to the other along avenues of beeches, plane trees, oaks, liquidambers and cherry trees can move even strong men to poetry.

Let's see.

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

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