Charming 1840s Berrima Residence Lists in the Highlands’ Most Sought-After Village
This secluded Berrima estate with sweeping country views offers a rare mix of privacy, craftsmanship and Southern Highlands calm.
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Known for its historic jail, bucolic rolling hills, beautifully preserved Georgian-era architecture and nearby wine country, Berrima is a drawcard for buyers seeking a stylish tree change with all the bells and whistles.
Whether it’s a grand agricultural estate or a charming period cottage, Berrima in the NSW Southern Highlands is home to a thriving property market buoyed by city slickers coveting a slower – and greener – lifestyle.
So popular as a weekend getaway location, the region has been coined “The Hamptons” of Sydney.
Hillside, on a grand 2462sq m land parcel in the heritage heart of Berrima, dates back to the 1840s. Sitting only minutes from the centre of town, the period property is surrounded by local history.
The Wilkinson St residence is opposite the landmark Harper’s Mansion estate, a National Trust heritage property and popular tourist attraction that is home to one of the largest hedge mazes in Australia.
Couple its prime position in Berrima with its Georgian charm – and a separate cottage on site – Hillside is filled with opportunity, said selling agent James Hall of Savills.
“It’s got the whole village on its doorstep, which makes it so appealing. And the bonus is that as a short-term rental, it’s always in demand because you’ve got the very popular Bendooley Estate wedding venue just down the road,” Hall said.
“Berrima has really come into its own because it’s retained its old school charm and hasn’t become commercialised while still appealing to visitors.”
The property is within close walking distance of Berrima’s quaint boutiques, cafés, and noted restaurants such as Eschalot, as well as Australia’s oldest continuously licensed pub with a beer garden, the Surveyor General Inn.
Last sold in 2015 for $1.45 million, Hillside is now coming to market with a price guide “in the high $3 millions” according to Hall.
The traditional home paints a pretty picture with its fairytale facade framed by meticulously landscaped grounds reminiscent of a stately English homestead.
The private setting features tall established trees, heritage stables, a gazebo, a fire pit, and a lockup garage with a workshop. In addition to the two-bedroom main residence, the guest cottage has en-suites to all three bedrooms.
A classic country house that is as rich in character as it is grand in scale, Hillside has rustic exposed brick interior walls, timber floors, and multiple French doors spilling out to the lush landscaped grounds.
“The beautiful wraparound veranda overlooks almost a full-size grass tennis court,” Hall added.
“Then there are the incredibly mature pine trees giving it privacy, even though it’s so close to the village.”
The vast level lawn is also an idyllic spot for a game of croquet, cricket, or a good old-fashioned English tea party.
As well as the selection of casual and formal living and dining areas, there is a cosy library, a wine cellar, and a modern kitchen with sophisticated sage green cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, a Hastings Turner ceramic double sink, a central island bench, and designer pendant lighting.
Added extras include air conditioning, hydronic heating, four original fireplaces, and the original well has been integrated into the entryway as a period feature.
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As interest rates, inflation and market sentiment fluctuate, investors are being urged to focus on data, not panic.
Australia’s housing affordability crisis is being fuelled by chronic undersupply, planning delays and rising development costs, as politicians continue to focus on the wrong solutions.
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Australia’s housing crisis will not be solved by first-home buyer incentives or tax changes alone, with leading property figures warning governments must tackle supply constraints if affordability is to improve.
Speaking at the Kanebridge Quarterly Property Leadership Summit in Sydney last week, expert project marketing specialist Sam Elbanna, property investor and fund manager Paul Miron and property consultant Karla McNeice said that a lack of housing supply remained the central issue facing the market.
Elbanna, Director of CPM Realty with more than 30 years’ experience in project sales, argued that successive governments had focused too heavily on stimulating demand rather than addressing the barriers preventing new housing from being delivered.
“The misconception is that politicians think the way to solve the housing crisis is to drive demand,” he said.
“The reality is that’s not the way. This is a supply-side problem, and it needs to be solved on the supply side.”
Drawing on his experience in project sales, Elbanna said policies designed to help first-home buyers often had unintended consequences, pointing to previous grants that ultimately flowed through to higher property prices.
Instead, he said developers were facing increasing red tape, approval delays and rising costs, which were discouraging new housing supply.
“In the absence of stock, demand exceeds supply,” he said.
Miron, a Co-Founder and Fund Manager of Msquared Capital, said the housing debate had become overly focused on tax policy while overlooking broader structural issues.
He argued that affordability challenges stemmed from a combination of factors, including planning constraints, supply shortages, migration levels and interest rates.
“No-one can be 100 per cent certain on the real reason for property prices is going up,” he said.
“The reason why property prices are higher is a combination of interest rates, lack of supply, migration, vacancy rates and maybe taxes play a role.”
Miron was critical of recent federal housing policy changes, warning they could reduce the number of new homes being built and further constrain supply that was even highlighted in the budget.
He also highlighted the importance of the property sector to the broader economy, noting that residential real estate and related industries employed more than one million Australians.
McNeice, who advises developers on sales strategy and market intelligence, said understanding buyers had become increasingly important as affordability pressures intensified.
While affordability remained a major consideration, she said today’s buyers were focused on value rather than simply price.
“People are looking for value for money,” she said.
She said buyers were increasingly evaluating factors such as transport connections, walkability, nearby amenities and flexible living spaces that could accommodate changing family needs.
“What infrastructure is going on? Can I walk to the shops? Can I meet people at the local cafe?” she said.
The panel also discussed the mounting pressures facing developers, with Elbanna arguing that many projects become financially unviable from the moment a site is purchased.
“The viability of a development happens at the moment the site is bought,” he said.
He said rising construction costs, higher interest rates and overly optimistic feasibility assumptions had left some developers exposed as market conditions changed.
While acknowledging the growing number of smaller and first-time developers entering the market, Elbanna said property development required expertise across finance, construction, marketing and legal disciplines.
“It is actually a business that requires a level of expertise,” he said.
Looking ahead, the panel agreed opportunities remained in the market despite current challenges.
Miron said property should continue to be viewed as a long-term investment and cautioned against trying to time short-term market movements.
McNeice said success would increasingly depend on identifying projects that genuinely met changing buyer expectations.
Elbanna said affordable housing remained achievable, but developers needed to deliver more than just homes.
“We can provide affordable housing in this country,” he said.
“But we’ve got to wrap that affordable housing with the things that people want.”
As Australia’s housing affordability debate intensifies, the panellists agreed on one point: without a meaningful increase in housing supply, demand-side measures alone are unlikely to solve the nation’s property challenges.
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