Bega Valley dairy farm on the market for the first time in a century

If you’ve been searching for a rural property that's retained its stunning heritage features, this historic homestead in the Bega Valley is waiting to meet you.

Burchell Higgins Property sales director Guy Higgins says from the moment you set eyes on the house - complete with verandahs and filigreed woodwork - at 2038 Buckajo Road, also known as Meringlo, you’ll find all the hallmarks of the tradesmen of the past.

The gentle hills of the Bega Valley, leafy trees and green pastures can be viewed from the verandah that wraps around three sides of the home.

Inside, the floral wallpaper, detailed cornices, timber sash windows, coloured glass windows and metal fireplace (with tessellated tiles) are a beautiful step back into yesteryear.

Even the original bread oven remains in place.

“It’s got all the features that many people are looking for in a lifestyle property,” Guy says.

“It’s also particularly well located as it’s close to Canberra, the coast and the snow.”

Unlike other homesteads in the Bega Valley, the Federation-era homestead was built in 1904 from bricks made on-site by the Thatcher construction family of the early 1900s.

“It’s not a famous residence, but it is one of the standout residences in the Bega Valley," Guy says.

“It has very large rooms, high ceilings, ornate timber work internally and externally, and panoramic views over the 430-acre property."

There's also a granite fireplace in the dining room to keep you and your guests warm when the winter chill strikes. The five-bedroom, one-bathroom property has been owned by one family for more than a century.

It began life as a dairy farm before being converted into a beef cattle property.

Meringlo boasts an irrigation capacity of 195 megalitres using water from the nearby Bega River to water its ryegrass and clover pastures.

“The charm, the scale and the condition of the building are quite good,” Guy says.

“The building is actually in very good structural order – but the kitchen and bathroom would lend themselves to renovations in coming years due to the age of the property.”

Buckajo is located in the Bega Valley, a small area of NSW known internationally for its dairy production – and this home is no stranger to the industry.

“Dairy farming has been the backbone of the Bega Valley for over 120 years,” Guy says.

“At Meringlo, the cheeses were made on site and stored and matured on the property, a rare aspect of these farming properties.”

Two dairy buildings on the property, along with a historic cheese storage building from approximately 1910, are ready to be resurrected should Meringlo's new owners like to revive the property’s dairy history.

The beauty of the homestead isn’t just inside the house; the stunning surrounds quickly draw the eye.

“It sits in a delightful valley,” Guy says.

“The fact that it has Bega River frontage – our main water source in the Bega Valley – is great.”

While Meringlo is a perfect example of country living, it also has easy access to the big smoke – it’s just 27km from Bega and 2.5 hours from Canberra.

“It's a lifestyle opportunity for people who are attracted to a residence such as this, but the property itself is strong grazing country, and there is high demand for that," Guy says.

“The property could be leased out if the next owner doesn’t want to run it."

Meringlo will be auctioned at 1pm on Saturday 17 June 2023.

View the full listing.

Article originally written and published by The RiotACT.