Sold by Nick van Vliet & John Lewis

Nick van Vliet & John Lewis are Historic farm and home specialists. They have a very high regards for provenance and heritage. Our property description below is just some of the evidence of our passion. Please call us if you need any advice, we are pleased to assist you. "Wattle Hills" historic homestead on 25 acres "Wattle Hills" is one of the Fleurieu Peninsula's most significant historic homesteads. Located at Wattle Flat, it's an easy commute via the McLaren Vale wine region, set between the country townships of Yankalilla and Myponga. John Clarke arrived from Ireland in Holdfast Bay, South Australia in 1836. He had to carry his belongings through the water to the beach, then through the sand hills to the settlement. Together with other settlers, they organised tents or built reed huts, and with very limited provisions available, learned to be resourceful to survive. Kangaroo, emu, fish and parrots were on the diet John purchased a town acre in Adelaide and imported a horse and dray from Tasmania, then hacked his way through bushland to the Wattle Flat area, the first known European settler. He squatted there in 1838. It was 10 years before he could purchase the land for the sum of 1 pound an acre. His first shelter was a tent, later a slab hut with thatched roof, then the two-storey home In 1840 he returned to Adelaide to meet and marry Catherine Taggart, also from Ireland. They returned to Wattle Hills, then their children came along. In 1843 the grander home was built, but with a growing family funds were needed to extend, so in the 1850's together with eldest son Thomas, John went prospecting in the Victorian gold fields and struck gold. There were now sufficient funds to extend the farmhouse and buy much more land in Wattle Flat, Myponga, Yankalilla, and even the Northern Territory John and Catherine ended up having 13 children and living the rest of their lives on the property. (More historic data available upon request) Now some 185 years later, it's your turn What we love about the property: Wattle Hills Cottage, Circa 1838; • 2 storey stone construction, perfect BnB • Downstairs has slate flooring • Open plan living/dining/kitchenette • Huge open fireplace, currently blocked off and has gas heater provision • Bedroom with solid timber floors and bathroom upstairs Wattle Hills Main Homestead, Circa 1843; • Welcoming front verandah leads into the hallway with slate flooring • High ceilings, slate and Australian hardwood flooring, many original windows with hand floated glass panes, some lead lights, and stone masonry all add to outstanding charm and character • Stately main living room featuring open fire with Australian cedar fire surround, mantle, and slate hearth, inset cedar display cabinet and double hung windows with beautiful country views • Second living/ dining room has raked ceilings, hardwood flooring, slow combustion heater with slate hearth and rustic timber slab mantelpiece • French Provincial bespoke kitchen with solid granite benchtops, Smeg 900mm gas cooktop with electric oven, Asko dishwasher, water filter, generous fridge space and huge walk-through larder/ butler's pantry. The kitchen also has French doors leading out to a slate paved central courtyard and rustic laundry/ storeroom • Main bedroom is at the front of the home with open fireplace, ceiling fan, double hung window with north facing fantastic country views, large walk-in robe with secret cellar underneath, and spacious ensuite featuring vintage vanity, toilet and shower • Bedroom 2 is on the east side of the home, it is huge and has direct access outside with north facing French doors, windows, wall mounted heater and ceiling fan • Bedrooms 3 and 4 are single bedrooms with raked ceilings • Family bathroom has a huge luxurious bath, very spacious shower, and separate toilet and handy outside access to the front verandah • The third bathroom has shower, toilet, trough and loads of space to install inside laundry • Linen press in hallway Swimming pool and pavilion; • Inground 50,000L salt chlorinated fibreglass swimming pool • 7.6 x 5.2m open plan room with alfresco entertainment area overlooking the pool • Potential second BnB, large enough for internal bathroom/ kitchenette (stcc) • Raked timber ceilings • Solid timber flooring • Aluminium doors and windows that look out over the pool area and hills views • Split system air-conditioner Outbuildings; • Double carport by the homestead • The old stone dairy • Magnificent original stone shearing shed, storing up to 1000 bales of hay • Foaling stable with direct access to foaling paddock • 12x6m workshop • 9x4m tool shed • Historic pig stys (in need of repair) • Most outbuildings have power, lights, and concrete floors The Land; • Approximately 25 acres divided into 6 paddocks and 2 small holding yards • Cattle yard and crush • Lined colour bond horse shelters and watering troughs to each paddock • Post and rail fencing, sita-wire, some electric fence provision, ring lock and barbed wire fencing Services; • Mains power • Mains water to paddocks, domestic buildings, and grounds • 50,000 litres of rainwater for gardens • Bio Cycle septic system • Bottled gas • 2 x instant gas hot water services • Wireless NBN internet Wattle it be for you and your family? A holiday home, a business venture with paid accommodation, something commercial (stcc) in the magnificent old stone shearing shed, or a place to call home for your family and livestock? John Clarke was there on the 28th day of December 1836, when Governor Hindmarsh proclaimed South Australia a province of the British Empire, make sure you are at the inspection of this important part of South Australia's history, you're gonna love it. OUWENS CASSERLY - MAKE IT HAPPEN™ RLA 275403