DOMAIN
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Caringal, an exclusive rural property in the Southern Highlands, is expected to sell for more than $2.75 million in an online auction.
The property, in the Wildes Meadow district, includes a three-bedroom weatherboard homestead, separate guest accommodation, and caretaker's cottage.
High-end rural property agent Chris Meares said Caringal should sell in the range of $2.75 million to $3.25 million when it goes to auction.
The 52-hour online auction will start with an opening bid of $2.5 million on May 12 and close on May 14.
Mr Meares said the online auction was a new innovation by marketing agents in rural property marketing.
"One of the problems we have had over the past 18 months is the lack of transparency in rural property markets, causing bidders to be uncertain as to where they should pitch their bids," he said.
"The online auction is a completely transparent method of selling, which gives interested parties three days and two nights to consider their options before bidding, by knowing exactly where the bidding is up to before committing themselves."
Caringal is being offered for sale by its current owners who want to retire from the farm.
Mr Meares, of Meares & Associates, said that the property was in one of the most sought-after country addresses.
Set on 21 hectares, the main homestead has a modern kitchen, three bathrooms, formal sitting room, dining room, study and billiard room. It was originally an 1890s cottage that was fully renovated 12 years ago.
The house is centrally heated with reverse cycle airconditioning, modular gas heating, and large open fireplaces.
The guest accommodation includes a weatherboard three-bedroom guesthouse built in the 1940s and a single-bedroom log cabin. There is also a separate one-bedroom house located away from the homestead at the southern end of the property.
A meandering driveway leads into a landscape garden planted in 1950 and designed by Berrima Bridge Nurseries. A feature of the garden is an 80-year-old Weeping Ash tree.
Caringal has a number of natural springs.