Merrilla, Goulburn sells to Anthony Crichton-Brown
London based agribuinessman Anthony Crichton-Brown has spent $6.06 million on Merrilla, near Goulburn, one of the finest heritage homesteads of Southern New South Wales.
He's now busy converting the 388 hectare prime agricultural grazing land from sheep to cattle. The farm comes with a homestead dating in part from 1838, one of the seven historic Chisholm family residences in the district, that was offloaded by the pioneering family in 1957 for $162,000.
The estate, with Wollondilly River frontage, features a tennis court, pool stables and an ornamental lake.
The 73 year old Geelong Grammar-educated Robert Crichton Brown has long held significant farming holdings in NSW.
His father, Sir Robert Crichton-Brown, died in 2013, one of Sydney's most prominent businessmen and political figures from the 1960s to the late 1980s. He headed, or chaired, several significant companies including Rothmans of Pall Mall, the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney and the Lumley Group.
Merrilla was sold through Christie International agents Bruce Eason and Ken Jacobs by the Jigsaw fashion retailer Malcolm Webster and his wife, Eileen who bought it in 2002 from the publishing entrepreneur Deke Miskin.
Title Tattle first visited the property in 1995, ahead if it being sold by businessman Michael Darling who had paid $561,659 in 1984. Architect Howard Tanner undertook the extensive restoration and renovation over nine years for Darling.
Title Tattle recalls the names of former residents Edith and Alice Chisholm could be found etched in the front window pane.