Highton Manor presents subdivision opportunity with historical romance
Highton Manor, 140 Highton Lane, Mansfield, Victoria, is a recently listed subdivision and business opportunity that has a romantic backdrop.
The Italian-facaded 1896 mansion, set on 18 acres, has a Council Planning Permit for a 26 lot subdivision that would retain the mansion itself on 10 acres of land.
With gardens, views to Mount Buller, and Victorian feaures including a formal drawing room, two cellars, open fireplaces and a tower. The tower houses a bedroom with en-suite and spa.
The seven-bedroom, eight-bathroom property also includes a small vineyard, swimming pool, motor court, stables, lake and rose garden.
It offers a range of business opportunities, including as a boutique hotel (which appears to be the current use for the property, including a listing in Lonely Planet), a restaurant for which a current liquor license and restaurant license can be transferred, or as a stately home - located near ski fields.
If the buyer intends to subdivide, architectural drawings for the planned development are also available for purchase.
The mansion was built by Francis Highett and his wife Deborah on a portion of land belonging to her father's 'Greenvale'. It was based on Highton House in Geelong, built by grazier John Highett, which was itself a replica of an ancestral home in England's Dorset.
Highett House later became the Montpellier vineyard, hotel and picnic area.
Highton Manor was the first two-storey brick house in the area, and it took nearly 20 years to get the property built to standard with all of the bricks quarried on the property and handmade locally.
Due to some complications over Francis Highett's father's will prior to this time, he was left with very little money, however had many opportunities - including going on to win the Victorian tennis championships in 1880 and 1881, and singing duets with Dame Nellie Melba - whose own property and connections has been a subject of much discussion on Property Observer.
Highett also performed as a soloist at St Paul's Cathedral in London. Having then met Deborah Griffiths at a Government House Ball, and maryring, they built the Manor on her father's farm.
The current owners are called Christine and Joseph on the website, who have provided an activities list including hot air ballooning, horse riding, four wheel drive safaris and white water rafting.
RP Data notes the property last transacted in November 1996 for $675,000.