The 1850s Hunter Valley trophy home Berry House goes up for sale
Berry House has come up for sale.
The 1850s Hunter Valley trophy home, Berry House, set on 1.2ha at Berry Park, has been listed for sale.
The price guide is $2.975 million to $3.25 million.
The single level home dates back to the days of the pioneer pastoralist John Eales, who was granted 2100 acres on the Hunter River east of Morpeth.
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Eales, described as tough and crusty, and his assigned convicts cleared the land.
Berry House was to be among several homes on the estate, the most impressive being Duckenfield which was demolished in 1917 by BHP.
It is on 1.2ha.
A private retreat.
Eales oversaw the expansion of his extraordinary prosperity from the estate, with his endeavours including Duckenfield Colliers, importing thoroughbred horses for racing and being the first director of the Hunter River Steam Navigation Company.
Eales died in 1871, with the estate bequeathed to his five surviving sons, and occupied by the family until 1972.
Former pioneer John Eales.
It has been held by the current vendors since 1996. “Built of hand-crafted sandstone, John Eales chose the perfect site on the flood free, lush, north-facing gentle slope overlooking the fertile farmlands and mountains beyond,” its listing agent Rhonda Nyquist at PRDnationwide Hunter Valley said.
His gravesite. Pic Steve Tickner.
“It has been fastidiously restored and maintained by the current custodians who have enjoyed the envied lifestyle of our early gentry with the befitting modern comforts one would expect in such a fine residence,” she added.
The locals commonly assume Eales was a forefather of the ex-Wallabies skipper.