Leuralla, the landmark estate in Leura long held by the Evatt family, has changed hands, setting a record price for the village.
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The seven-bedroom home, which sits across 2.23 ha, has seen the "under contract" sign go up on major real estate portals after nearly a year on the market.
It is understood to have achieved close to its $8 million asking price, which is well over the Leura record of $4.15 million.
The estate, known as Leuralla, has been owned by four generations of the Evatts, a prominent family in legal and political circles. It was put up for sale by the current owner Victor Evatt.
The property was listed with high-profile luxury agent Craig Pontey of McGrath Double Bay along with Darren Curtis of Forbes Global Property. Mr Pontey was contacted but was unable to comment.
Early beginnings
The current house is the second property on the site, with the first Leuralla built in 1903 by Harry and Alice Andreas destroyed in a bushfire in 1908.
A new residence, which now stands today, was built between 1910 and 1914 and today the stately home and its extensive grounds is one of the Blue Mountains oldest heritage listed homes.
For 40 years it operated as a Toy and Rail Museum, allowing the public to get a glimpse of the grand estate.
According to the Historic Houses Association of Australia, the design of Leuralla is said to have been influenced by legendary US architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
However some of its features hark back to another era of grand country estates, with the inclusion of servants' quarters, large formal entertaining areas including a stately dining room, a gentleman's drawing room and a music room.
While those rooms lie empty today, the strong bones of the building and finely crafted features, such as well-preserved Queensland maple timber panelling and intricate fretwork of native plants.
Outside, the gardens, which were originally established by Harry Andreas and then were further designed by noted Australian landscape designer Paul Sorensen, are just as impressive.
The estate has been sub-divided in the past over 11 separate titles. However, it is understood that there was keen interest by potential buyers to keep it as one large estate.
More than a century of ownership
While the Blue Mountains still has numerous original grand homes, which Sydney's rich favoured as summer retreats to escape the heat, few have remained in the hands of one family.
The property changed hands, within the family in 1955, when it was purchased by former member of the NSW Legislative Assembly and barrister Clive Evatt snr, who had married one of the Andreas children, Marjorie, in 1928.
The home was transformed into the long-running toy museum by Clive senior's son, the late barrister and art dealer Clive Evatt jnr, and his wife, Elizabeth.
It was then passed onto the current vendor, Victor Evatt, the son of Clive jnr and his first wife Susan Hepburn.
Jen Melocco
Previously she lead the editorial team for two of Australia's most read property magazines for Domain, and published within premier Nine media brands The Australian Financial Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.
