Kangaroo Valley Real Estate

Kangaroo Valley Three of the Best – June 2004

The superlatives come thick and fast when people rave about Kangaroo Valley, a hidden oasis of lush countryside between Berry on the south coast and Fitzroy Falls in the southern highlands.
“We are surrounded by escarpment with rainforest so the valley is like a womb – it’s so nurturing,” says Lindy Ross, the principal of Lindy Ross & Associates Kangaroo Valley Real Estate.
The Kangaroo Valley Tourist Association proudly proclaims that the area is one of only seven true geographic valleys in the world, created by the Kangaroo River winding through the Great Dividing Range.
And as you drive down steep Barrengarry Mountain from Bowral and catch the first views of the Valley, it really is a heart-stopping sight with filtered light speckling through the rainforest and lush green lands, even in drought.
“All the people who come here say they can feel sanity come over them as they come down Barrengarry Mountain – they feel like they are leaving the city behind,” Ross says.
Like many places within a two-hour drive of Sydney, prices in this area have gone ballistic during the property boom driven up by wealthy weekenders willing to pay more than a million dollars for a Valley hideaway.
Kangaroo Valley First National’s Michael O’Gorman says only about 30 per cent of the 700 or so properties in the Valley are weekenders, but they generate the highest prices.
“The record price is $3.9 million for a weekender on Cavan Rd and then the owner spent something like $400,000 on renovations,” he says.
Ross says the bulk of her business is selling weekend retreats to harried Sydneysiders, who love the privacy and seclusion of the valley.
“It’s not like Berry which has a slightly older market, it’s mostly the 30 and 40-year-olds buying here,” she says.
“The biggest change we’ve noticed is that the stress level of our buyers has increased so much that people just aren’t interested in building anything - they want instant lushness and luxury and they want to move in and open a bottle of wine.”
Property Monitors says the median house price for the 12 months to April 2004 was $346,000 – but only houses in town or strata titled properties will sell for a figure close to that.
O’Gorman says properties on small acreage with views and privacy are the most sought after, with prices starting at around $500,000.
“This is one of those places that struggles during the week and just comes alive on a Friday afternoon when the weekenders arrive,” he says.

Wombat Hollow
176 Kangaroo Valley Rd
Kangaroo Valley
For sale $789,000
House Four bedrooms, one bathroom, triple garage
Built 1980s
Land 3.24ha
Inspect by appointment
Agent Raine & Horne Berry 4464 2399

The property known as Wombat Hollow is on the road to Berry and has north-facing views of the Valley.
The rough-sawn cedar house was built in the 1980s but has just been renovated to include a large open plan living and dining area off the kitchen.
The house has a large north-facing deck off the living area, which has views over the Valley.
The renovated kitchen has stone benchtops, an Ilve stove and a large island bench which could seat up to six people.
The dining room has a chocolate brown feature wall and space for a large table which can accommodate up to 12 people.
The bathroom is original and has maroon tiles and timber panelled walls, but there is a separate bath and shower with a large vanity unit.
There is a separate toilet and large laundry, which has external access.
The four bedrooms are at the far end of the house and all have built-in wardrobes and views over the property.
There is a separate colourbond shed, which has power and water and space high enough ceilings for a mezzanine floor.
The property is mostly cleared and has three fully fenced paddocks and has potential to run some livestock. It has its own flowing stream and a patch of bushland that attracts local wombats.

Stella Ann
124 Moss Vale Rd
Kangaroo Valley
For sale $629,000
House Three bedrooms, one bathroom, off street parking
Built 1920s
Land 2000 sq m
Inspect by appointment
Agent Kangaroo Valley First National Real Estate 4465 1996

This rustic weatherboard cottage in the main street is surrounded by rambling gardens and has a charm that none of the spacious new luxury weekenders can compete with.
The thick chunky floorboards are cedar, a legacy of the days when Kangaroo Valley was a cedar-cutting town, and there are tongue and groove walls, high ceilings and open fireplaces.
There is a modern timber and laminate kitchen, which has space for a dining table and overlooks the garden.
The cottage has a modern extension at the back, which includes two adjoining bedrooms, a large laundry and a sunny living area with glass doors.
The bathroom has been renovated but maintains its original charm, with a deep bath, porcelain basin and tongue and groove walls.
There is a formal lounge at the front of the cottage as well as a library or fourth bedroom.
The cottage has an old stables out the back, which is used as storage. Stella Ann is rented as a holiday letting, and the agent says it returns $200 a night on weekends.
It is close to local shops and restaurants, and is set on a hill overlooking the flats of the Valley.

Sahalee
979A Moss Vale Rd
Kangaroo Valley
For sale by offers over $950,000
House Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, off street parking
Built 2002
Land 1.002ha
Inspect by appointment
Agent Lindy Ross & Associates Kangaroo Valley Real Estate 4465 1404

With breathtaking views over Kangaroo Valley, this private pavilion-style house has been lovingly built by the owners during the last three years.
The house features recycled materials from a 1930s weatherboard cottage in Berry which was dismantled and brought over the hill to the Valley to be re-used in Sahalee.
The kitchen has been created from the old Oregon doors and window frames, with a sleek stainless steel bench and modern appliances.
The 1930s architraves and weatherboards have been used throughout Sahalee, while the garage walls have been built from the iron which was originally used on the roof of the cottage.
The large open plan living space has high cathedral ceilings, a combustion heater and opens to the deck with views over the garden and the valley.
There is a guest wing, which has another living area, two bedrooms and a loft space. The main bedroom has its own verandah and an ensuite bathroom.
The main bathroom and large laundry has cabinetry built from old fence palings.
There is an outdoor dining pavilion, which has a soundproof music room underneath.
The house is nestled in the lee of a steep hill with rainforest, and has landscaped gardens around the house which include a vegetable garden, fruit trees and a pond.
There is a private courtyard on the south-eastern side of the house.


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Kangaroo Valley Three of the Best – June 2004 The superlatives come thick and fast when people rave about Kangaroo Valley, a hidden oasis of lush countryside between Berry on the south coast and Fitzroy Falls in the southern highlands. “We are surrounded by escarpment with rainforest so the valley is like a womb – it’s so nurturing,” says Lindy Ross, the principal of Lindy Ross & Associates Kangaroo Valley Real Estate. The Kangaroo Valley Tourist Association proudly proclaims that the area is one of only seven true geographic valleys in the world, created by the Kangaroo River winding through the Great Dividing Range. And as you drive down steep Barrengarry Mountain from Bowral and catch the first views of the Valley, it really is a heart-stopping sight with filtered light speckling through the rainforest and lush green lands, even in drought. “All the people who come here say they can feel sanity come over them as they come down Barrengarry Mountain – they feel like they are leaving the city behind,” Ross says. Like many places within a two-hour drive of Sydney, prices in this area have gone ballistic during the property boom driven up by wealthy weekenders willing to pay more than a million dollars for a Valley hideaway. Kangaroo Valley First National’s Michael O’Gorman says only about 30 per cent of the 700 or so properties in the Valley are weekenders, but they generate the highest prices. “The record price is $3.9 million for a weekender on Cavan Rd and then the owner spent something like $400,000 on renovations,” he says. Ross says the bulk of her business is selling weekend retreats to harried Sydneysiders, who love the privacy and seclusion of the valley. “It’s not like Berry which has a slightly older market, it’s mostly the 30 and 40-year-olds buying here,” she says. “The biggest change we’ve noticed is that the stress level of our buyers has increased so much that people just aren’t interested in building anything - they want instant lushness and luxury and they want to move in and open a bottle of wine.” Property Monitors says the median house price for the 12 months to April 2004 was $346,000 – but only houses in town or strata titled properties will sell for a figure close to that. O’Gorman says properties on small acreage with views and privacy are the most sought after, with prices starting at around $500,000. “This is one of those places that struggles during the week and just comes alive on a Friday afternoon when the weekenders arrive,” he says. Wombat Hollow 176 Kangaroo Valley Rd Kangaroo Valley For sale $789,000 House Four bedrooms, one bathroom, triple garage Built 1980s Land 3.24ha Inspect by appointment Agent Raine & Horne Berry 4464 2399 The property known as Wombat Hollow is on the road to Berry and has north-facing views of the Valley. The rough-sawn cedar house was built in the 1980s but has just been renovated to include a large open plan living and dining area off the kitchen. The house has a large north-facing deck off the living area, which has views over the Valley. The renovated kitchen has stone benchtops, an Ilve stove and a large island bench which could seat up to six people. The dining room has a chocolate brown feature wall and space for a large table which can accommodate up to 12 people. The bathroom is original and has maroon tiles and timber panelled walls, but there is a separate bath and shower with a large vanity unit. There is a separate toilet and large laundry, which has external access. The four bedrooms are at the far end of the house and all have built-in wardrobes and views over the property. There is a separate colourbond shed, which has power and water and space high enough ceilings for a mezzanine floor. The property is mostly cleared and has three fully fenced paddocks and has potential to run some livestock. It has its own flowing stream and a patch of bushland that attracts local wombats. Stella Ann 124 Moss Vale Rd Kangaroo Valley For sale $629,000 House Three bedrooms, one bathroom, off street parking Built 1920s Land 2000 sq m Inspect by appointment Agent Kangaroo Valley First National Real Estate 4465 1996 This rustic weatherboard cottage in the main street is surrounded by rambling gardens and has a charm that none of the spacious new luxury weekenders can compete with. The thick chunky floorboards are cedar, a legacy of the days when Kangaroo Valley was a cedar-cutting town, and there are tongue and groove walls, high ceilings and open fireplaces. There is a modern timber and laminate kitchen, which has space for a dining table and overlooks the garden. The cottage has a modern extension at the back, which includes two adjoining bedrooms, a large laundry and a sunny living area with glass doors. The bathroom has been renovated but maintains its original charm, with a deep bath, porcelain basin and tongue and groove walls. There is a formal lounge at the front of the cottage as well as a library or fourth bedroom. The cottage has an old stables out the back, which is used as storage. Stella Ann is rented as a holiday letting, and the agent says it returns $200 a night on weekends. It is close to local shops and restaurants, and is set on a hill overlooking the flats of the Valley. Sahalee 979A Moss Vale Rd Kangaroo Valley For sale by offers over $950,000 House Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, off street parking Built 2002 Land 1.002ha Inspect by appointment Agent Lindy Ross & Associates Kangaroo Valley Real Estate 4465 1404 With breathtaking views over Kangaroo Valley, this private pavilion-style house has been lovingly built by the owners during the last three years. The house features recycled materials from a 1930s weatherboard cottage in Berry which was dismantled and brought over the hill to the Valley to be re-used in Sahalee. The kitchen has been created from the old Oregon doors and window frames, with a sleek stainless steel bench and modern appliances. The 1930s architraves and weatherboards have been used throughout Sahalee, while the garage walls have been built from the iron which was originally used on the roof of the cottage. The large open plan living space has high cathedral ceilings, a combustion heater and opens to the deck with views over the garden and the valley. There is a guest wing, which has another living area, two bedrooms and a loft space. The main bedroom has its own verandah and an ensuite bathroom. The main bathroom and large laundry has cabinetry built from old fence palings. There is an outdoor dining pavilion, which has a soundproof music room underneath. The house is nestled in the lee of a steep hill with rainforest, and has landscaped gardens around the house which include a vegetable garden, fruit trees and a pond. There is a private courtyard on the south-eastern side of the house.