Last Listing description (September 2012)
Magnificent country residence just a few kilometres south of Goulburn, with elevated, expansive views over the town and surrounding countryside.
Constructed using superb craftsmanship and materials, and finished with the finest of inclusions sourced from around the world, 'Atherton' exudes luxury and meticulous attention to detail.
With 4-5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms/ powder rooms, the house is of grand proportions yet retains the warmth and feel of a family home, a striking feature being the light, bright and airy atmosphere throughout.
Living and entertaining areas include formal lounge, formal dining, wet bar, living/TV room, breakfast room, marble kitchen, conservatory, study/sitting room, guest wing and rumpus room. Outside, fabulous terraces, verandahs and courtyards open onto the manicured garden.
Service areas comprise internal laundry and mud room, a 4-car garage with separate toilet and a further, separate garden shed/garage.
Exterior:
20 acres pasture improved, sown with kikuyu and perennial ryes.
2 generous dams and a 2,500 gallon per hour bore supply to both dams.
0.5 kms post-and-rail fencing permanently treated.
Water irrigation drip-feed to hundreds of advanced ornamental trees, including a 1 km sealed driveway lined with oak trees and over 3 acres of landscaped, manicured gardens (by designer Michael Bligh), computer controlled with automatic filtration and commercial grade magnetic water treatment.
High grade top soil in all garden areas to a minimum 400 mm depth, and in most areas much deeper.
Garden hydraulics engineered to maximise water harvesting and reticulation, with perfect drainage plumbed to dam from sub-surface drains, pits, gutters and house catchment overflows.
2 separate water main ring systems (one for stored, fresh rainwater and one for dam/ bore water) surrounding the house and gardens, with numerous strategically placed high pressure tap outlets.
200,000 litre rainwater storage in charged system hidden from view.
Envirocycle waste treatment plant.
Separate garage hidden from view for garden equipment, etc.
Extensive and exclusive use of Haddonstone paving, columns and architectural features in all landscaping.
Grundfoss pressure switched pumps for all pumping applications.
C Bus controlled extensive landscape lighting.
Huge, paved and balustraded entertaining terrace.
Construction:
Designed by architects John Webb and Associates of Bowral and Robert Collingridge and Associates of Sydney.
Engineered construction combining double brick, brick veneer and fully rendered finish. Double frame extensively used in internal walls for sound, strength and aesthetics.
CSR Wunderlich terracotta roof shingles.
Timber and steel-reinforced frame and structural columns.
Oversized footings on rock foundations.
Walls, ceiling and void space between floors fully insulated.
Termi-mesh and under-slab termite treatment installed.
I-beam bearer beams to first floor utilising 25mm thick commercial flooring and rondo rubber mounted furring channels to ground floor ceiling, effectively resulting in no noise transfer to downstairs rooms.
Custom-made cedar windows and doors throughout, featuring all double-hung windows with traditional pulley-and-weight mechanism. Extensive use of double-glazing.
Underfloor slab heating, individually thermostatically controlled room by room..
Three, separate, ducted gas, individually zoned heating systems, two with added air conditioning.
Two instantaneous gas hot water systems.
C Bus computer controlled smart wiring throughout and cat 5 data cabling to most rooms.
Decorative ceiling cornicing, skirting, architraves and ornamental features throughout.
Magnificent granite and wrought iron, curved, suspended, concrete staircase.
Lightning protection system and dirty power filter with surge arrestors.
Interior:
Tiled areas in 600 X 600mm polished porcelain.
Slab Carrara marble to main bathroom and ensuite.
Slab Carrara marble benchtops to most cabinetry.
Carrara marble French fireplace surrounds to gas open fires in lounge, dining, living and master bedroom.
Floating timber floor Trueloc 6000 from Truegrid Flooring Melbourne to kitchen and meals area.
80 oz weight Feltex Reserve plush pile carpet throughout.
Villeroy and Bosch and Kohler designer bathroom ware throughout.
Frameless glass shower doors.
All cabinetry custom-built and supplied by Mayflower of Melbourne, including kitchen, media unit, wet bar and wine store, dining, study, wardrobes, customised bathroom furniture and laundry.
Interior design and imported fabrics from Mary Reidel of Reidel Imports, Melbourne.