EOI closes 2pm Wednesday 18/11 at 2pm USP
Commanding 77 glorious acres of Pewsey Vale countryside, 'Martinsell' is a Barossa landmark steeped in history, rich in possibility, and utterly impossible to replicate.
Established in 1901 by Murray Dawson as part of what became the Southern Hemisphere's largest apple and pear orchard, and later long held by Sir Alick and Lady Downer and renovated in 1974, this remarkable estate has known just four custodians. Each has added to its story, none has compromised its soul.
A stately sandstone Georgian-style façade makes an unforgettable first impression, setting the scene for interiors where old-world grandeur reigns. Soaring moulded ceilings, ornate Victorian cornices, polished timber floors, magnificent fireplaces, and even original working servants' bells tell a story at every turn.
Downstairs, a grand reception room leads to two generous bedroom suites, each with private bathrooms, while a kitchenette and extensive cellar make independent living or guest accommodation an effortless proposition.
Upstairs, the grandeur only grows. A magnificent lounge gathers around a combustion fireplace, unfolding to a sweeping balcony where morning sunshine and panoramic views steal the show. A dedicated library brings its own sense of intrigue, complete with a secret office tucked discreetly away, while a formal dining room has a hidden passage of its own. Grand entertaining, quiet contemplation, and a little mystery behind the walls.
The main suite pairs a dressing room with direct access to a terrazzo-lined bathroom, while the breakfast room and kitchen showcase a striking 1989 mural by celebrated South Australian artist John Dowie. Former servants' quarters complete the picture as a private two-bedroom guest wing.
Outside, master-planned gardens cascade down the hillside in magnificent stone terraces, where heritage roses, sweeping lawns, and a fully tiled swimming pool create a setting worthy of the home's extraordinary pedigree. Fruit trees, productive vegetable beds, and secluded garden pockets bring something new to every season.
Even the outbuildings have stories to tell. A freestanding studio with a working fireplace offers a retreat from the everyday, original stables have found new life as a rumpus room and garaging, and a beautifully converted historic barn delivers fully self-contained three-bedroom accommodation adding another dimension to the estate's income-generating potential.
Beyond, 77 glorious acres open the possibilities even wider.
Approximately twelve acres of Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz vines bring the Barossa lifestyle home, while sweeping paddocks offer room for horses, livestock, agistment, or simply the freedom to roam. Across the road, a creek and billabong add another layer of natural beauty, with protected forestry reinforcing the extraordinary privacy.
Behind the romance, serious rural infrastructure delivers. Extensive rainwater storage, a bore with pump, a fire system, solar power, cellar facilities, and substantial shedding ensure this estate works as beautifully as it looks.
And while it feels a world away, everything is wonderfully within reach. Proximity to the Heysen Trail sets hikers up for life, Williamstown takes care of the everyday, the Barossa delivers world-class wine, dining, and scenery, and Adelaide sits just over an hour away.
Now, the next chapter is yours to write. A grand private estate, boutique accommodation destination, working rural holding, or spectacular wedding and events venue few properties put so many possibilities feel within reach, and fewer still do it with this much soul.
125 years in the making, a lifetime of possibility ahead - 'Martinsell' is a legacy worth making your own.
More to love:
Built 1901 by Murray Dawson and known as Wirra Wirra House
Full renovation by Woods Bagot in 1975, renamed 'Martinsell' for Martinsell Hill in Vale of Pewsey in southwest England
Additionally renovated since 2015
50cm thick bluestone walls with sandstone Georgian style frontage
Double carport with powered workshop and laundry
Ducted and split system air conditioning
Heritage features throughout painted timber light fittings, soaring moulded ceilings, Victorian cornices, picture rails, restored timber floors, red pine high skirting boards, cedar shutters with brass hinges, decorative fireplaces (capped, scope to make operational)
C1989 John Dowie mural to kitchen
QuadraFire combustion fireplace to sitting room
Solar panel system with 78 panels
Established gardens, including 150-200 heritage roses
Veggie patch and fruit trees
Fully tiled, salt water chlorinated 90,000L pool
Bore with pump, plumbed to gardens and toilets
Emergency water tank with CFS fittings
Shed with fire-resistant cellar
5 fenced paddocks with gravity fed taps and troughs and 2x loading ramps
Further information on specifications, updates, gardens, and history available upon request
Specifications:
CT / 5576/12
Council / Barossa
Zoning / PRuL
Built / 1901
Land / 31.2 Ha (approx)
Council Rates / $5,117.20pa
Emergency Services Levy / $175.70pa
Estimated rental assessment / Written rental assessment can be provided upon request
Nearby Schools / Williamstown P.S, Birdwood H.S
Disclaimer: All information provided has been obtained from sources we believe to be accurate, however, we cannot guarantee the information is accurate and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions (including but not limited to a property's land size, floor plans and size, building age and condition). Interested parties should make their own enquiries and obtain their own legal and financial advice. Should this property be scheduled for auction, the Vendor's Statement may be inspected at any Harris Real Estate office for 3 consecutive business days immediately preceding the auction and at the auction for 30 minutes before it starts. RLA | 226409
▶
