Artist John Olsen sells Southern Highlands inspiration, Owlswood

Artist John Olsen and his wife, Katherine have sold Owlswood, their 13-hectare Glenquarry property for $2.9 million. 

The Sproules Lane estate came with a pool and tennis court and ornamental lake. Since buying the property for $925,000 in 1999, they added two wings to the original house.

They also built a two-storey gallery and a studio designed for John to paint large canvases.

There was also groom's quarters, 10 stables, open and covered arenas, given Katherine is a keen horsewoman. 

The Olsens have downsized to Hidden Lake, an eight-hectare Avoca property. It comes with a Canadian-style fishing lodge that the Olsens have renovated extensively.

Owlswood was sold through Michael Maloney at Richardson & Wrench.

It was initially listed in late 2011.

Title Tattle recalls John Olsen, often described as Australia’s greatest living artist, had to be dragged to the Southern Highlands. 

John’s Summer at Owls Wood series, which was launched at The Bell Gallery in Berrima, was inspired by the effect of the drought and the bushfires on the grass in his garden.