Markdale contents for auction after Ashton family sale at Binda

Contents arising from the lengthy Ashton family ownership of historic Markdale, the NSW country farm at Binda, are to be auctioned.

The recently sold property has been with the family for three generations.

The 2250 hectare farm was sold by company director Geoff Ashton and his wife Mary.

On May 12, 13 and 14 the contents of Markdale will be for viewing. The auctual auction of the 350 plus lots will be at the RSL in Crookwell starting at 12noon on Sunday.

But not all is going up for sale with exclusions including the polo-player weathervane that tops the 1920s home to symbolise the family's long association with the sport.

The seven bedroom homestead came with extensions by the acclaimed Professor Leslie Wilkinson and is set in an Edna Walling-designed garden.

The garden is acknowledged as one of the great country gardens of Australia.

The Southern Tablelands property derives wool production and guesthouse income from its two original stone cottages and the shearers quarters.

Richard Royle of Colliers International Rural & Agribusiness sold the estate for an undisclosed price to a family with four boys from Sydney.

James Ashton, who was a copy boy on the Hay newspaper and went on to become chairman of MLC and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, pioneered the farm.

James had four sons Jim, Robert, Geoff and Phil, who began playing polo against his wishes.

In the 1930’s, the brothers shipped their horses to England, the United States and India to compete against top international teams, winning numerous tournaments, including England’s Hurlingham Championship and the Indian Empire Shield, and an invincible team in Australia retiring unbeaten in 1938.

The guestbook shows just how generously the Ashtons have entertained their family and friends at the home since 1921.