Downer family sell Barossa estate Martinsell

Martinsell, the stately Barossa country estate owned by the Downer political dynasty family has been sold to Peter and Marijan Bulley.

The property had been in the family since 1974, sometimes referred to as Downer Manor.

It was the home of Downer's late parents Lady Mary and Sir Alick and sold following Lady Mary's sudden death in 2014.

Sir Alick died in 1981.

Oren Klemich of Klemich Real Estate secured the $1.9 million sale after having expectations of around $2 million.

The 1901 home, one of the Barossa's grandest abodes comes with 4.85 hectares of sauvignon blanc grapes, which are contracted to Grant Burge Wines.

There's also a chicken run, an old apple packing shed with red gum timber beams and a shearing shed.

Alexander Downer and wife Nicola live in London where he is our High Commissioner.

The Downers last year sold their Mount George family home to move to London.

For Mr Downer, his appointment as Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in March last year was a homecoming, of sorts.

He lived in the official residence — Kensington’s Stoke Lodge — when his father, Sir Alick Downer, was High Commissioner from 1964 to 1972.

This article was first published in the Weekend Australian's Mansion Australia section.