Stately eight-bedroom Southern Highlands residence offers luxurious country living

This magnificent Southern Highlands property is as enchanting as the Elvish forest realm in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings after which it was named.

Lothlorien is a stately eight-bedroom, two-storey Hamptons-style residence set on a 1.47 hectares of sculptured gardens and mature trees in the village of Exeter, only a couple hours from Canberra.

On the market for $3.8 million, the property has undergone an extensive internal renovation and updating by the present owners, who bought Lothlorien as their forever home but now have to move back to Sydney for work commitments.

Agent Kate McCullagh from Di Jones Real Estate Southern Highlands says the property was established in 1975 by a botanist and horticulturalist, which accounts for the extraordinary garden and its specimen trees and mature hedges.

“It’s a well thought out garden for all seasons,” she says, noting that the summer green is now giving way to autumn hues.

It used to be part of the open gardens scheme but Ms McCullagh says potential buyers should not be intimidated by the grounds.

“The current owners aren’t gardeners and it’s not really high maintenance,” she says.

The challenge for the couple in their 40s with two young children when they bought the property was to bring the internal space up to speed.

Ms McCullagh says the house had been quite let go but they could see the potential and the amazing bones.

“She’s quite a well-known interior designer so no expense has been spared,” she says, with high-end fittings and fixtures sourced from the United States.

The changes wrought include new bathrooms, kitchen, flooring, wool carpet doors, plantation shutters and a brightening white coat of paint replacing ‘every shade of green imaginable’.

The eight bedrooms include a master suite with walk-in wardrobe and opulent ensuite, and an additional guest suite with ensuite, while the bathrooms feature Carrara marble, imported tapware, with the main bathroom boasting a freestanding bath and powder room.

In the heart of the house, the designer kitchen is made for food lovers with a Carrara marble island bench, a freestanding double oven with a six-burner gas cooktop, Miele coffee machine and steam oven.

There are several living areas including the main open plan area graced with beautiful oak hardwood floors, bespoke cabinetry, and a gas fire, while the billiards room with wood fire leads out to the covered terrace through French doors.

For the bibliophile or those seeking a quiet space, there is a spacious library with custom-built bookshelves, adjoining home office, and music room.

The discriminating wine lover will be wowed by the extensive glass cellar fitted with custom racking and feature lighting.

The quality continues in the laundry which features Travertine flooring, marble bench tops and custom cabinetry, and a separate mud room.

A two-sided eaved veranda offers a relaxing space to enjoy the garden tranquility, and there is also covered alfresco space with Merbau hardwood decking and plantation shutters.

The irrigated grounds and lawns are perfect for garden parties or croquet, and the property also includes an enclosed outdoor spa, a dam with pier, chicken coop and even space for a pony.

A triple garage with new electronically controlled barn doors has car accommodation covered, and the property is secured by automatic gates and a back to base alarm system.

A combination of wood fires and ducted gas heating ensures Lothlorien remains snug during the Highland winters.

Ms McCullagh says interest so far in the property ranges from a Sydney party looking for a Highland retreat where their grown-up children and their grandchildren could visit, to young families wanting to move to the Highlands for the wonderful schools and lifestyle.

She says Lothlorien also lends itself to a bed and breakfast with the current floor plan.

Exeter itself is a beautiful little village with a boutique general store, antique shops, and markets.

Inspections are by appointment. Kate McCullagh can be contacted on 0421 216 512 and for more information go here.