Sutton property features ‘settler’s cottage’ on 73 hectares and development potential

A 73-hectare property featuring a new three-bedroom home styled as an 1850s settler’s cottage and superb equine facilities is on the market at Sutton just 15 minutes’ drive from Canberra.

To be auctioned on June 1, ‘Cleanskin’ at 2155 Sutton Road is being rezoned under the Sutton Master Plan and offers the chance to combine a lifestyle change with a development opportunity or land bank.

Fenced into 20 paddocks, the property includes machinery/horse float shedding, three dams, cattle yards, stables, and a 60 x 60-metre sand arena.

‘Cleanskin’ is being sold by the owner of local transport company Quickeze Towing, Paul Keir, whose family is well-known in the horse world, particularly for their carriage driving work.

“We acquired Cleanskin five years ago, when we lived up the road and had spent many years driving by and admiring it. It had been owned by local racehorse trainer Robert O’Sullivan and later Burt Rumble,” Mr Keir said.

“When we bought it, it was really a clean slate so we built a replica of the Majura post office that operated from the late 1800s until about 1925 as the homestead.

“It’s a larger interpretation of an early settlers’ cottage and is a lovely little escape from the daily grind.”

Although full of historic appeal, the inside of the homestead is modern and stylish, featuring a separate laundry and carport, a north facing verandah, and an undercover entertaining area at the back.

The homestead sits on gently undulating grazing country, scattered with timber and pine trees.

“When we bought the place, there was an existing large hayshed that we’ve extended and added horse stables and truck parking too. We’ve also added steel cattle yards and a 60×60 equestrian arena,” said Mr Keir, whose wife is a keen dressage and eventing competitor.

The family also breed and train stock horses and the Keir name is well known for harness and heavy horse exhibiting, as well as running Canberra Park riding school for 25 years.

“Locals will be very used to seeing our family ride to the Sutton village, tie up our ponies at the pony club and have breakfast at the bakery on the weekends. It’s a great place to live,” Mr Keir said.

Listing agent George Southwell from Ray White Rural Canberra/Yass said the property provides the ultimate facilities for the equine enthusiast.

“The historic village of Sutton is within easy walking distance of ‘Cleanskin’ and was gazetted in July 1867,” Mr Southwell said.

“The village boasts a thriving community based around the local pony club, the Rural Fire Brigade and small public school.”

Mr Southwell said the property is being rezoned to R2, with Yass Valley Council adopting the Sutton Master Plan last December.

Mr Southwell said that the rezoning should allow for 20 acres of the property near Sutton village to be divided into a maximum of 17 blocks measuring 5,000 square metres each.

This would still keep 160 acres of the original property intact and Mr Southwell said there is also provision for another house to be built on the property.

“Cleanskin’ provides an unprecedented private property, land bank or development opportunity,” Mr Southwell said.

He added that it is rare to be able to buy such a large property so close to a city.

For more information contact Mr Southwell on 0429 838 345 or click here.

The property will be auctioned at 11 am on June 1 at The Hotel Kurrajong in Canberra. It is open for inspection tomorrow (Sunday, May 13) from 11 am to 12 noon.

Below is a video of the property supplied by Ray White Rural Canberra/Yass.