Italian Hill, Daylesford sold

Italian Hill at Daylesford, set in one of Victoria's finest private gardens, has sold to Dr Marcus Carey and artist wife Margo for a suburb record $2.05 million.

The property with a straw bale home and two further mud-brick guest cottages had been the work of a retired Melbourne businessman over the last 12 years.

The main residence has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and vast expanses of decking overlooking the garden.

Hand-hewn stone paths and local stone walk ways wind around the garden featuring rolling lawns, vegetable gardens, a rose garden and an idyllic waterfall.

Kim McQueen at Colliers International sold the home.

She also just sold one of Daylesfords grand mansions, Mount Stuart House, for $2 million.

Built in 1860, the home has had a varied history, used as a hospital for soliders, a maternity hospital and more recently a bed and breakfast and private home.

Mount Stuart House sold to A local buyer Louise Melotte when sold by Melbourne owner David Harris who paid $398,000 in 1999.

Kim McQueen said it cemented the boutique spa town as a hot spot for investors looking to take advantage of one of Victoria's most popular tourist destinations.

This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian Mansion Australia section.